Muse Distribution International announced today that Tut, the six-hour event series produced by Muse Entertainment for Spike TV, delivered the largest average viewership in the timeslot (Sun-Tues 9pm-11pm) in 8 years for the network. Over 3 nights (including encore presentations), Tut delivered 11.4 million total viewers and 27.2 million consumed Tut content across all digital platforms. With the +3 numbers, Tut increased its overall viewership by 46% with viewership up amongst men and women in the 18-49 demographic by well over 60%.

Tut also attracted a gender balanced-audience with an aggregate of 6 million female viewers (including all telecasts).

“The huge support for Tut from U.S. audiences points to a great response to Tut across all platforms globally,” said Michael Prupas, CEO, Muse Entertainment.

Kevin Kay, President, Spike said, “Our investment in premium scripted programming is paying off in a big way as we delivered a broad and diverse audience with a remarkable 81% new viewers to the network.”

Other notable Tut multiplatform highlights include:

Highest viewership in the timeslot for an original series in Spike’s network history

Tut delivered 6.8 million new viewers over the 3 nights including 3.4 million female viewers and 2.6 million Adults 18-49.

Muse Distribution recently announced a number of new, additional sales of Tut including an all-rights deal in Japan with Hulu and in Turkey with Saran Media Group as well as Linear TV deals with Channel Five in the UK, Discovery in Italy, SIC in Portugal, and SKY in New Zealand.

Tut is produced for Spike by Muse Entertainment (The Kennedys, Being Human, The Pillars of the Earth, Bomb Girls) with Joel S. Rice and Michael Prupas as Executive Producers from Muse. The project is also executive produced by Greg Gugliotta (The Fosters), Michael Vickerman (Impact), Elice Island Entertainment’s Jeremy Elice, Angela Mancuso (Spartacus), and Director/Executive Producer David Von Ancken (Hell on Wheels) and written by Michael Vickerman, Peter Paige & Bradley Bredeweg (The Fosters). Sharon Levy, Executive Vice President, Original Series at Spike also serves as an Executive Producer. Producers are Irene Litinsky (Being Human) and Guy Louthan (The Call) and Vlad Wolynetz is Co-Executive Producer.

In a historic unanimous decision on June 11th, the Supreme Court of Canada legalized the use of marijuana edibles for medical purposes. According to the film’s producer Jesse Prupas, “when we first set-out to make GRASS FED, only dried marijuana was permitted for patients. We had to travel to Colorado and California to find legal edibles. Never did we imagine the Supreme Court would legalize edibles here in Canada too. Timing-wise, we struck gold and the film will integrate the Court's decisive ruling into its story arc.”

GRASS FED is a documentary film with a human experiment at its center. Featuring beloved Montreal actor/comedian Mike Paterson who treats his debilitating back pain by completely changing his health and lifestyle with a marijuana and hemp-infused diet, the film completed principal photography earlier this year.

For Montreal-based filmmaker Ezra Soiferman (Man of Grease), the Supreme Court’s decision will undoubtedly have a profound effect on our society, “the legalization of edibles for the 40,000 medical marijuana patients across Canada is a momentous step in providing safe and smoke-free alternatives for chronic-pain patients like Mike Paterson, and for those with many other ailments. As GRASS FED will demonstrate, if used carefully and with a doctor's supervision, edibles can be an effective - and often delicious - part of a patient's lifestyle. I was truly amazed by the transformation I saw in Mike during the course of shooting.”

As Mike Paterson exclaims after biting into one of his wife Monika Schmidt's homemade cannabis-infused delicacies in the film, "medicine has never tasted so good!"

Grass Fed was shot in Montreal, Smiths Falls (Ontario), Los Angeles, Denver and Cancun. It will appear on CBC’s documentary in Fall 2015.

The television movie Bomb Girls: Facing the enemy has been nominated for four major DGC Awards including: Best Television Movie/Mini-Series, Best Production Design (Aidan Leroux), Best Picture Editing (Tad Seaborn) and Best Sound Editing.

Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy previously won the Leo Award for Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Television Movie (Antonio Cupo) and three Canadian Screen Awards for: Best Dramatic Mini Series or TV Movie (Michael Prupas, Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell), Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series (Ali Liebert) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini Series (Jodi Balfour).

Selected from over 250 submissions, the DGC Award nominees in 19 categories represent a cross section of the industry's outstanding talent working in the screen-based industry. The Awards will be presented at the annual Gala on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at The Carlu in Toronto.

The television movie ZAPPED garnered three Leo Awards this year including: Best Television Movie, Best Direction in a Television (Peter DeLuise) and Best Picture Editing in a Television Movie (Richard Schwadel). ZAPPED was directed by Peter DeLuise ("16 Wishes," "Kyle XY") and executive-produced by Jane Goldenring ("Radio Rebel," "My First Mister"), Carol Baum ("Father of the Bride," "The Good Girl"), Michael Prupas ("The Kennedys") and Harvey Khan ("Spooksville"). Producer on the film was Lisa Towers ("The Christmas Choir"). Based on the book "Boys Are Dogs" by Leslie Margolis, the screenplay was written by Rachelle Skoretz with revisions by Matt Eddy and Billy Eddy and Kara Holden. Aakomon "AJ" Jones ("Pitch Perfect") was the choreographer.

Actor Antonio Cupo also brought home the Leo Award for Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Television Movie for his role in the Muse Entertainment / Back Alley Film Productions TV movie Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy.

The Leo Awards celebrate excellence in British Columbia film and television.

Muse Entertainment's VP of Post Production, Evan Tussman, brought home the "Deluxe Award Of Achievement In Post-Production" at the 2015 Banff World Media Festival(Rockie Awards) on June 9th.

Evan Tussman has been working in the field of post-production since 1997. He has worked for various film companies including as Director of Post-Production for Film Finances Canada.

Tussman has worked on theatrical feature films, television movies, mini-series and series, and has dealt with multiple co-production partners, distributors and broadcasters worldwide.

As head of post-production, his responsibilities include negotiating delivery items and terms with distributors, following up on deliveries and budgets and working with producers to fix any problems in order to meet delivery requirements and dates.

His experience has helped Muse Entertainment produce TV programming and theatrical films and honor delivery and budgetary requirements all over Canada, the United States and Europe.

The Rockie Awards, held each year at the Banff World Media Festivalis the largest program competition of its kind, with industry members from over 40 countries participating in this prestigious awards program. The Rockie Awards celebrates narrative content across 26 categories in drama, documentary, kids, and digital. Nominees come from many nations around the world, and they are chosen by over 350 international entertainment and media industry professionals.

MUSE USA

June-05-15MUSE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES LOS ANGELES EXPANSION AND THE HIRING OF NEW EXECUTIVES

MUSE USA TAPS LYDIA STORIE AS VP DEVELOPMENT

Muse Entertainment USA has hired Lydia Storie as the company’s Vice President of Development, Meghan Mathes as Director of Development and upped Scott Clayton to Manager of Development. The new LA-based team is charged with growing Muse Entertainment’s slate of scripted television programming, especially serialized drama, large-scale event miniseries and comedy, targeted for the U.S. The new hires come just ahead of TUT, the company’s latest event limited series starring Ben Kingsley, premiering July 19 - 21, 2015 on Spike TV.

"Adding these two dynamic women to Muse Entertainment’s team shows our determination to capitalize on the company’s continued growth,” says Joel Rice, president, Muse Entertainment USA.

“Great scripted television from conception to pitch to production is our goal and Lydia and Meghan bring Muse the talents to achieve them,” says Michael Prupas, CEO of Muse Entertainment.

Storie was previously Director of Development for Endemol Studio’s scripted pod Additional Dialogue, where she managed a diverse slate of cable development projects and specialized in securing book properties for the company’s slate. Before that, she helped launch the scripted development division of Original Media under company founder Charles Corwin.

Mathes hails from Evolution Entertainment where she was Manager of Development. She set up multiple projects at cable networks under the company’s first look deal with Lionsgate Television. Prior to starting this division, Mathes worked on the literary management side of Evolution.

Muse Entertainment has produced hundreds of hours of original television content. Recent credits include the award-winning miniseries The Kennedys (Reelz), The Pillars of the Earth (Starz), the sci-fi dramatic series Being Human (Syfy), and the comedic drama series Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Hallmark), created by Martha Williamson (Moonwater Productions).

Muse is currently in development on miniseries After Camelot for Reelz, which will again star Katie Holmes in the role of Jackie Kennedy as well as the series, Boys of ’67, in conjunction with A&E studios and Head First Productions for the History Channel with Jim Head and screenwriter Jeb Stuart.

The Movie Network/Movie Central drama starring Hugh Dillon, Hélène Joy, Louis Ferreira, Laurence Leboeuf, Greyston Holt and Michelle Forbes captured 82 per cent of the vote in the Great Canadian TV Playoff final round to SCTV‘s 18 per cent.

The Great Canadian TV Playoff featured homegrown head-to-head matchups of television shows with eight from the 1970s, 80s, 90s and 2000s facing off against one another. The final four were SCTV (70s), Degrassi (80s), Due South (90s) and Durham County (2000s).

Durham County star Dillon has had quite the spring on TV, Eh? His former Flashpoint character, Ed Lane, was named Canada’s Favourite TV Cop earlier this month.

Head First Productions and Muse Entertainment are proud to announce that they will be working in association with A+E Studios on The Boys of '67, a scripted series for HISTORY® (U.S.), about the First Platoon of Charlie Company, 9th Infantry Division; the only division raised, trained and deployed en masse to service in Vietnam.

A+E Studios is producing The Boys of '67, in association with executive producer Jim Head (Ricochet) of Head First Productions and executive producer Michael Prupas (Being Human) of Muse Entertainment. Award- winning screenwriter Jeb Stuart will pen and executive produce the series based on the book of the same name bynoted historian Andrew Wiest. Stuart penned the screenplays for films including Die Hard, Another 48 Hours, The Fugitive and Switchback. Over the past 25 years his features have grossed more than $2.5 billion. Dirk Hoogstra and Julian P. Hobbs are executives in charge of production for HISTORY.

HISTORY®, now reaching more than 96 million homes, is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across all platforms.

A+E Studios is the studio unit of the award-winning global media company A+E Networks, LLC. A+E Studios creates, produces and distributes high quality scripted programming across all networks and platforms in the A+E Networks portfolio, including A&E Network, Lifetime, History, LMN, FYI, H2 and A&E IndieFilms.

March-02-15MUSE ENTERTAINMENT BRINGS HOME THREE CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS!

The television movieBomb Girls: Facing the Enemygarnered three Canadian Screen Awards this year including: Best Dramatic Mini Series or TV Movie (Michael Prupas, Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell), Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series for Ali Liebert; and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini Series for Jodi Balfour. Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemywas produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Films.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s new Canadian Screen Awards recognize excellence in film, television and digital media productions.

BEING HUMAN'S MEGHAN RATH SCORES A ROLE ON THE HIT FOX SITCOM 'NEW GIRL' AND LANDS RECURRING ROLES ON TWO CRIME SERIES

Meaghan Rath insists that she really misses her hometown. All the same, the Montreal native can’t resist asking what the temperature is back home.

When told that it is a balmy minus 26 degrees C here with a wind-chill factor of minus 36, she almost apologetically reports that it is a plus 26 degrees in Los Angeles, and thank heavens for that ocean wind bringing a different sort of chill factor.

Alas, Rath has little time for frolicking in the sun and sand. The 28-year-old actress is mostly running from set to set. She makes her debut Tuesday on the hit Fox sitcom New Girl and will have a recurring role on the second half of the season with Zooey Deschanel et al.

With her remaining downtime, Rath will be promoting the coming U.S. theatrical release of the indie romance feature Three Night Stand, in which she stars and produces and which is directed by her longtime Montreal beau Pat Kiely (Who Is KK Downey?).

But Rath will have to deal with winter soon enough. She will attend the Canadian Screen Awards gala in Toronto on March 1 — the same night that Secrets & Lies debuts on the tube. Rath is up for best actress honours in a TV drama for her work as ghost Sally Malik on the cult sci-fi series Being Human, which recently wrapped after a four-year run and was produced by Montreal-based Muse Entertainment.

“It’s nice to be busy down here, because otherwise one could get a little stir crazy,” a cheery Rath says in a phone interview from her L.A. digs.

She is particularly pumped about landing work in New Girl. “I was a huge fan of the show before and had seen just about every episode. But what a thrill it is to be on a show that so many people love and watch. And the cast and crew have all been so nice and welcoming to me, too.

“I’m not used to shooting this kind of comedy, so it really keeps me on my toes. They’re yelling lines at me from behind the camera, which keeps things fresh.”

She plays Damon Wayans Jr.’s love interest on the show, and makes it into the inner sanctum of the loft he shares with the other principals. “He has major commitment issues,” Rath muses.

Hopefully, she can cure the Wayans Jr. character of the dilemma and continue for years to come on the series. If not, though, she does have Secrets & Lies to fall back on. Based on the Australian series, this American remake is a mystery, wherein Rath plays the aunt of the young boy murdered in the pilot episode. Lewis serves as the investigating detective, while Phillippe is cast as the leading suspect.

In Banshee, which is airing Fridays at 11 p.m. on HBO Canada, Rath plays a native cop in a crime-riddled Pennsylvania town, where racism rears its ugly head.

Given Rath’s roots, she can fit into a variety of roles. Her mother is of East Indian descent while her dad is of Austrian Jewish stock.

“As a result, I’m up for a whole slew of racially diverse parts,” she says. “I’m fortunate that I can fit into so many different ethnicities. But it can also create problems, because sometimes casting directors don’t know where they can put me.”

In addition to playing all manner of earthly roles, she has also become adept at otherworldly parts that have her bumping into things at night — thanks to Being Human.

“I’m being asked now how I’m able to keep my wits about me by working on such distinctly different characters on all these shows. But it’s not that difficult. They are all shot on different locations with different mindsets and modes.”

Rath is being feted as more than the new girl on New Girl, but also the new girl in Hollywood. “It’s weird, because so many of the friends I have worked with in Montreal and Canada are down here working as well.

“Still, for four years on Being Human, it was my show with my family. Now, all of sudden, I’m the guest on somebody else’s set. It’s strange, but it’s also a fun challenge.”

Rath does find it amusing when people marvel at her rapid ascent to stardom. “That’s a joke,” she cracks. “It’s been a 12-year journey. Some rocket ride. I started acting full time when I was 16.

“But that’s also the advantage of being Canadian. I got to work a lot at the beginning. I had the opportunity to learn, and that’s not something that is as available to young actors elsewhere.”

Although she may be the new flavour in L.A., Rath is equally keen to work back in Montreal as well. One project on the horizon is a follow-up to Kiely’s Who Is KK Downey? Unlike the original, in which Rath didn’t appear (largely because she and Kiely hadn’t yet met), there is apparently a plum part awaiting her in Who is KK Downey 2?

“I’m still a Montrealer at heart, and how dare anyone think otherwise?” she says with mock defiance. “We have absolutely not forsaken the city. We still have our place in Outremont. Pat and I are just bi-coastal now, although it does seem strange for me to be in the sun all the time. I even feel guilty for not suffering through a most miserable winter.”

THE TV MOVIE BOMB GIRLS: FACING THE ENEMY, THE 4TH SEASON OF THE SUPERNATURAL SERIES BEING HUMAN, THE DOCUDRAMA JFK: THE SMOKING GUN AND THE COMEDIC DRAMA SERIES SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED HAVE BEEN NOMINATED

The television movie Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy brought in five award nominations including: Best Dramatic Mini Series or TV Movie, Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series (Ali Liebert), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini Series (Jodi Balfour) and Best Achievement in Make Up (Katarina Chovanec & Eva Coudouloux).

The 4th and final season of the supernatural series Being Human received three nominations including Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (Meaghan Rath), Best Achievement in Make-Up (Erik Gosselin & Ewina Voda) and Best Visual Effects (ObliqueFX).

The powerful docu-drama about the assassination of John F Kennedy, JFK: The Smoking Gun, was nominated for Best Picture Editing in a Documentary Program or Series (Rosella Tursi).

Fan favourite TV series Signed,Sealed, Delivered, which follows the inspiring stories of four postal workers in the Dead Letter Office of the U.S. Postal System, brought in one nomination for Best Original Music Score for a Series (James Jandrisch).

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s new Canadian Screen Awards recognize excellence in film, television and digital media productions.

MUSE ENTERTAINMENT IS PRODUCING THE MINISERIES ABOUT EGYPTIAN PHARAOH TUTANKHAMUN FOR SPIKE TV

Herbert Kloiber's German mini-major Tele-Munchen has picked up all rights for German-speaking Europe to Tut, the new six hour miniseries on the life of legendary Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Oscar-winning actor Ben Kingsley stars in the series alongside Avan Jogia (Twisted) who will play Tutankhamun and AlexanderSiddig (Da Vinci’s Demons). Kingsley will play Ay, the Grand Vizier to King Tut. Canada's Muse Entertainment is producing for Spike TV. Tut is currently shooting on location in the deserts of Morocco.

The Universal Networks International owned and operated channel has picked up the exclusive first run UK broadcast rights to the first season of Hallmark Channel’s original drama series Signed, Sealed, Delivered, TVWise has learned. The show’s first season is set to premiere on Movies 24 on Sunday January 11th at 5pm.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered follows a quartet of civil servants who transform themselves into an elite team of lost-mail detectives working in the Dead Letter Office. Their determination to deliver the undeliverable takes them out of the post office and into an unpredictable world where letters and packages from the past save lives, solve crimes, reunite old loves and change futures by arriving late but always miraculously on time.

Created by Martha Williamson, the drama series is produced by Special Delivery TeleProductions in association with MoonWater Productions & Muse Entertainment and stars Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty), Kristin Booth (The Kennedys), Crystal Lowe (Primeval: New World) and Geoff Gustafson (Bates Motel). The executive producers are Martha Williamson, Joel S.Rice (Cyberbully), Michael Prupas (The Kennedys) and Scott Smith (Skins).

Signed, Sealed, Deliveredhas the distincition of becoming the third Hallmark original series that Movies 24 has acquired in the past year. The channel previously took second window rights to Hallmark’s flagship seriesCedar Cove (first window rights are held by Channel 5), and back in August they picked up period drama When Calls The Heart.

November-18-14THE PREMIERE OF 'NORTHPOLE' AVERAGED 4 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND REACHED 5.9 MILLION UNDUPLICATED VIEWERS

HALLMARK CHANNEL’S ANNUAL COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN CONTINUES TO BRING JOY TO THE WORLD, WITH THE NOVEMBER 15 AND NOVEMBER 16 ORIGINAL HOLIDAY PREMIERES OF NORTHPOLE AND ANGELS AND ORNAMENTS CATAPULTING THE NETWORK TO BE THE #1 MOST WATCHED AND HIGHEST-RATED AMONG HH’S FOR THE WEEKEND.

In addition, the network rated #1 among W25-54 for its second consecutive week. The debuts of Northpole and Angels and Ornaments also became the #1 and #2 movies of the week, respectively, among HH ratings and delivery.

Northpole, produced in partnership with Hallmark Cards and a Countdown to Christmas tent pole, averaged 4 million total viewers and a 3.5 HH rtg, while also reaching 5.9 million unduplicated viewers. Additionally, the movie was the top program for the day on cable among HH ratings, as well as the network’s most watched and highest-rated original film of 2014 to-date among HH’s, W25-54, A25-54, and total viewers. In its November 15th 8-10pm time period, Northpole ranked as the #1-rated movie among HH (3.5) and Total Viewers (1.9). The film also placed #2 in key demo delivery among HH (2,975,000), W25-54 (844,000), and total viewers (4,007,000).

In Northpole, Santa (Robert Wagner) and Mrs. Claus’ (Jill St. John) magical home, Northpole, has grown into a vast city powered by the magic of holiday happiness around the world. Yet the city is in trouble, as people everywhere are too busy to enjoy festive time together. One of these stressed-out souls is Chelsea (Tiffani Thiessen), a single mom who is trying to get noticed at her new reporting job while helping her ten-year-old son Kevin (Max Charles) adjust to a new school. When he starts talking about real elves and actual sleigh rides, she worries that his imagination has gotten out of control. With a little added help from Kevin’s charming teacher Ryan (Josh Hopkins), a mysterious elf, Clementine (Bailee Madison), and a gospel singer named Josephine (Candice Glover), Chelsea may learn that even chasing down the facts can lead to holiday magic.

“Northpole” was produced for the Hallmark Channel by Muse Entertainment in association with Crown Media Productions. Executive Producers are Joel S. Rice and Michael Prupas. Irene Litinsky is producer.

October-13-14KATIE HOLMES TO REPRISE ROLE OF JACKIE KENNEDY IN NEW MINISERIES “AFTER CAMELOT”

REELZCHANNEL, AMERICA'S TRULY INDEPENDENT CABLE NETWORK, AND MUSE ENTERTAINMENT WILL BE PRESENTING A NEW FOUR-HOUR MINISERIES "THE KENNEDYS-AFTER CAMELOT," BASED ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER, AFTER CAMELOT: A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE KENNEDY FAMILY 1968 TO THE PRESENT, BY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR AND BIOGRAPHER J. RANDY TARABORRELLI, IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY STAN E. HUBBARD, CEO OF REELZ AND MICHAEL PRUPAS, CEO OF MUSE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES.

Katie Holmes, who starred as Jackie Kennedy in "The Kennedys" will reprise that role as Jackie O in the new miniseries. Ms. Holmes will also direct one of the four episodes of the miniseries and serve as an executive producer. Jon Cassar, who directed all 8 episodes of "The Kennedys" will direct the other 3 episodes.

"The Kennedys-After Camelot" reunites REELZ with the very talented production team behind the Emmy Award-winning "The Kennedys" that includes Muse Entertainment, Director Jon Cassar (who won the DGA award for the production) and writer Stephen Kronish. Keri Selig, owner and founder of Intuition Productions, who brought the project to REELZ, also serves as an executive producer.

Production of "The Kennedys-After Camelot" is slated to begin in the spring 2015 in Canada with a premiere on REELZ (and Corus Entertainment) in 2016.

REELZ picked up U.S. rights to "The Kennedys" amid much controversy when it was dropped by another network and many critics said the project was never going to air. But REELZ defied critics and exercised its freedom as an independent voice. Not only did it air on REELZ but it went on to receive 10 Emmy nominations and won 4 Emmy Awards including best actor for Barry Pepper's portrayal of Robert Kennedy. In addition, the miniseries was recognized with 12 other awards and 18 nominations.

Muse Entertainment is responsible for the production of the miniseries and its international distribution.

Mr. Hubbard stated, "'The Kennedys' was a brilliant execution of storytelling based on the lives of one of the world's best known families. We are delighted that we were able to step up and acquire the broadcast rights to that property and we have every confidence that this new miniseries will be as enthusiastically received as the last one."

He added, "Katie elegantly portrayed Jackie Kennedy in the first miniseries and now will continue the role as Jackie grows into the Jackie O that the world knows best. Katie is brave, committed and perfect for this role. She is a strong, talented woman who understands how special and respected Jackie Kennedy, and then Jackie Onassis was, as an international icon."

Michael Prupas, president and CEO of Muse Entertainment commented, "Our miniseries 'The Kennedys' was a ratings hit all over the world and we expect 'After Camelot' to also be very well received. The Kennedy family made a lasting mark on America and the world even after John and Robert Kennedy's assassinations by championing universal healthcare and by creating the Special Olympics and by continuing to act as international ambassadors for many other worthy causes."

After Camelot: A Personal History of the Kennedy Family 1968 to the Present is based on J. Randy Taraborrelli's extensive research, including hundreds of exclusive interviews and captures the wealth, glamour and fortitude for which the Kennedys are so well known. Like the book takes its readers, the miniseries will take its viewers on an epic journey of the ongoing saga of the nation's most famous and controversial family.

FRANCHISE TO INCLUDE MULTIPLE 2-HOUR ORIGINAL MOVIES; FIRST FILM, "SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED FOR CHRISTMAS," PREMIERES NOVEMBER 23

The weekly scripted series, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," executive produced and written by Martha Williamson (Executive Producer of "Touched by an Angel"), will move to sister network Hallmark Movies & Mysteries as a movie franchise consisting of a series of two-hour original films. Debuting on November 23 at 9pm ET/PT, 8C, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered For Christmas" will be the first movie in the franchise, with three more slated for 2015.

"We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Martha Williamson and to bring her brand of rich and poignant stories to viewers on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries," said Michelle Vicary, executive vice president, programming and network publicity, Crown Media Family Networks. "At their core, the narratives on 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' revolve around mystery and suspense, with compelling characters and dramatic storylines that will be enhanced by an extended format."

"When Bill Abbott and Michelle Vicary asked if I can evolve the 'Signed Sealed Delivered' franchise into a series of movies, I was honored to continue the Hallmark tradition of quality family movies," said series Creator and Executive Producer Martha Williamson. "At the heart of 'Signed Sealed Delivered' is Oliver, a modern day gentleman with old world values played brilliantly by Eric Mabius," she added. "He and his wonderful team of postal detectives will continue to surprise us and sometimes make us laugh as they work to solve mysteries behind letters, even mysteries of life."

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will introduce viewers to the "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" franchise by airing a marathon of the series on Saturday, October 11 from 11am - 11pm ET/PT, 10C.

Returning as the "POstables," Oliver O'Toole (Eric Mabius, "Ugly Betty"), Shane McInerney (Kristin Booth, "Orphan Black"), Rita Haywith (Crystal Lowe, "Smallville") and Norman Dorman (Geoff Gustafson "Primeval: New World") will take millions of viewers on new adventures as they uncover the mysteries of lost missives and return them to their intended recipients, profoundly changing lives in the process.

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered" is a comedic drama that follows the lives of a group of postal workers who transform themselves into an untraditional team of detectives to track down intended recipients of undeliverable mail. Their missions take them out of the office into an unpredictable world where redirected letters and packages can save lives, solve crimes, reunite old loves and change futures by arriving late but somehow on time.

The documentary Sky Jumpers, produced by Muse Entertainment has been selected as one of Realscreen's Mipcom Picks for 2014.

Shot over a period of six years with a steady supply of GoPro and Sony helmet- mounted cameras and more than a little intestinal fortitude, Sky Jumpers follows the exploits of world-renowned skydiving troupe The PD Factory Team. From speed flying to BASE-jumping, the Florida-based team holds myriad world records and titles. But even with its air-gliding expertise, the group isn’t shielded from the unpredictable, and tragedy can strike at a moment’s notice.

Sky Jumpers was chosen from scores of submissions supplied to Realscreen from around the world.

JERRY CICCORITTI NOMINATED FOR BEST DIRECTION & ROCCO MATTEO NOMINATED FOR BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Muse Entertainment's holiday television movie Holidaze has been nominated for two DGC Awards. Muse is pleased to congratulate Jerry Ciccoritti and Rocco Matteo on their nominations for Best Direction - Televison Movie/Mini-series and Best Production Design - Television Movie/Mini-series, respectively.

Holidaze stars Jennie Garth as Melody, a high-powered corporate workaholic for a retail conglomerate who wakes up in an alternate universe where she never left home and is married to her childhood sweetheart! Once determined to leave her small town life behind, Melody must make sense of her new life and decide if you truly can go home again.

The DGC Awards will be handed out at a ceremony in Toronto on October 25, 2014. This annual event celebrates the outstanding achievements and contributions in the screen-based industry of members of the Directors Guild of Canada.

“I am proud of the nominees and what their collective body of work brings to this country's industry as well as to the Guild as a whole," stated Tim Southam, National President, DGC. “It is a privilege for the Guild to have an opportunity to celebrate such outstanding talent every year through the DGC Awards, and this year looks more exciting than ever.”

On November 22, 2014 the red carpet will be rolled out at the Vancouver Playhouse in Vancouver for the UBCP/ACTRA Awards. The gala event will honour five UBCP/ACTRA Members for work done in the past year.

The nominees include Signed, Sealed, Delivered’s Crystal Lowe (Best Actress – The Future Me) who plays regular cast member Rita and Joel Berg (Best Newcomer – To Whom It May Concern) who starred as Corporal Benjamin Parker in episode 102.

“We congratulate all the nominees and look forward to an exciting awards show. It is so rewarding to see all the talent this province has to offer and to have everyone come together to celebrate” said Alvin Sanders, President of UBCP/ACTRA.

FORMER JFL DIRECTOR OF SALES WILL HEAD MUSE DISTRIBUTION’S SALES DIVISION

Shawn Rosengarten has come on board as Vice President, Distribution, to lead Muse Distribution’s international sales, a new executive position at the production company’s Montreal head office.

Shawn Rosengarten has worked in television distribution for 15 years. During his time at Just For Laughs, Shawn licensed over 100,000 hours of content across all platforms from every continent, establishing Just For Laughs Gags, Just For Laughs Stand-Up, and other comedy series worldwide. He also brokered the production of Just For Laughs Gags Asia in Singapore with MediaCorp and as well as comedy specials for Comedy Central, Paramount Comedy Spain, and China’s CCTV3. He is also a former member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

“We are delighted that Shawn, with his extensive distribution experience, production knowledge and international relationships, will be leading Muse Distribution’s efforts,” says Michael Prupas, Muse Entertainment’s CEO.

“I am thrilled to be joining such an esteemed production company that is already internationally acclaimed for delivering dynamic, high-quality dramatic and factual programming. Being tapped to build its global sales division is an outstanding opportunity,” says Rosengarten.

SIX CRUCIAL ROLES HAVE BEEN CAST IN MUSE ENTERTAINMENT’S UPCOMING 6-HR. EVENT SERIES, “TUT,” COMING TO SPIKE TV IN 2015.

Nonso Anozie will play the savvy military, yet power hungry, strategist General Horemheb. Anozie is an accomplished and acclaimed British film, stage, and television actor, having recently starred as Renfield in NBC’s “Dracula” and as Xaro Xhoan Daxos in HBO’s hit series “Game of Thrones.” He was also recently seen in the Blockbuster features “Ender’s Game” and “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.” Anozie’s stage credits in the UK include the title role in William Shakespeare's King Lear and the title role in Othello, for which he won the prestigious Ian Charleson Award.

Sibylla Deen plays Ankhe, the calculating and conniving sister-wife of King Tutankhamun. Deen is an up-and-coming Australian actress who is a breakout star in FX’s critically-acclaimed new hit series, “Tyrant,” portraying the character of Nusrat Al Fayeed.

Kylie Bunbury portrays Suhad, the beautiful and endearing girl of Mitanni descent who develops a strong bond with the young Egyptian king, despite the fact she is not of royal bloodlines. The Canadian-born Bunbury is best known for her portrayal of Lacey Porter in the ABC Family series, “Twisted,” as well as her co-starring role opposite Jonah Hill in “The Sitter” for FOX.

Alexander Siddig is a highly accomplished stage and screen actor who plays High Priest Amun, a major political figure who holds great influence in King Tutankhamun’s inner sanctum. Siddig’s impressive resume includes “Da Vinci’s Demons” (Starz) “24” (FOX), “Hannibal” (FOX), “Atlantis” (BBC); and films “The Fifth Estate,” “Cairo Time,” and “May in the Summer.” He is currently on stage at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in the new play “Holy Warriors.” In July, HBO announced Siddig has been cast in “Game of Thrones” as Doran Martell for the hit series’ fifth season.

Peter Gadiot plays Ka, King Tutankhamun’s close confidant and seemingly loyal friend from childhood who harbors a secret love for Ankhe, Tut’s wife. Gadiot is best known for his portrayal of Cyrus, the mysterious genie in the ABC’s series, “Once Upon A Time in Wonderland.” Gadiot currently plays the recurring character Caesar in the El Rey original series, “Matador.”

Iddo Goldberg plays Lagus, an Egyptian soldier who develops a special bond with King Tutankhamun. Goldberg’s television credits include “Salem” (WGN America), “Mob City” (TNT), “Secret Diary of A Call Girl” (ITV2), “Peaky Blinders” (BBC Two); along with appearances in “The Mentalist” (CBS) and “NCIS” (CBS). His film credits include “While We Were Here”, “The Tourist,” “Last Passenger,” and “Defiance.” Iddo is represented by Silver Lining Entertainment (US) and Gordon & French (UK).

Recently, Muse Entertainment announced that legendary actor Ben Kingsley will star in the key role of Ay, the Grand Vizier to King Tutankhamun, who wields tremendous power and influence as the top advisor to the young Egyptian ruler. The role of King Tutankhamun will be played by one of Hollywood’s up-and-coming young actors, Avan Jogia.

“Tut” will be shot entirely on location in Morocco this fall and will debut on Spike TV in 2015. Post production and digital effects will be done in Montreal. This will be Spike TV’s first scripted event series in eight years and is another step in the network’s move to reaching a more gender-balanced audience. Muse Distribution International is selling the 6-hour television event globally.

CATCH THE GERMAN PREMIERE OF 'PLAYED' ON SEPTEMBER 5TH AT 10:15 PM ON KABEL EINS

PLAYED, the prime-time, dramatic series about elite undercover cops who pose as drug dealers, paid assassins, gun runners and gangsters to infiltrate criminal worlds and collect evidence, will premiere on kabel eins in Germany on September 5th.

PLAYED is produced by Muse Entertainment (The Kennedys) and Back Alley Film Production (Bomb Girls). It stars Vincent Walsh (Hemingway vs. Callaghan), Chandra West (NYPD Blue) and Lisa Marcos (Flashpoint).

August-05-14AVAN JOGIA TO PLAY KING TUTANKHAMUN IN EVENT SERIES “TUT” FROM MUSE ENTERTAINMENT

“TUT” SET TO BEGIN PRODUCTION THIS FALL IN MOROCCO AND CANADA. PREMIERES ON SPIKE IN 2015

Canadian actor Avan Jogia will play the young renowned Egyptian ruler, King Tutankhamun, in “Tut,” Muse Entertainment’s 6-hr. event series coming to Spike TV in 2015.

“Vancouver born actor Avan Jogia will be an outstanding addition to the cast of Tut,” says Michael Prupas, CEO of Muse Entertainment. “Jogia is a hot young talent with a loyal following who has already made a name for himself in film and television.”

“We are thrilled to work with such an incredibly gifted young actor who is perfectly suited to take on the immensely complex character of King Tutankhamun,” said Sharon Levy, Executive Vice President, Original Series, Spike TV.

Jogia, one of Hollywood’s emerging young actors, will next be seen in Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini’s “Ten Thousand Saints” with Hailee Steinfeld, Emile Hirsch, Asa Butterfield, Ethan Hawke, and Emily Mortimer. Also coming soon will be Eddie O’Keefe’s “Shangri-La Suite” with Emily Browning, Ashley Greene, and Luke Grimes. He is currently shooting one of the leads of “Outskirts” opposite Ashley Rickards, Eden Sher, and Victoria Justice. Jogia continues to be represented by ICM Partners and LINK.

Last month, Muse Entertainment announced that legendary actor Ben Kingsley will star in “Tut” in the key role of “Ay,” the Grand Vizier to King Tutankhamun who wields tremendous power and influence as the top advisor to the young Egyptian ruler.

“Tut” will be shot entirely on location in Morocco and Canada this fall and will debut on Spike TV in 2015. This will be Spike TV’s first scripted event series in eight years and is another step in the network’s move to reaching a more gender-balanced audience. Muse Distribution International is selling the 6-hour television event globally.

Principal photography has commenced in Montreal on the new action-thriller, The Fixer. The four-hour miniseries event is produced by Muse Entertainment and distributed worldwide by Sonar Entertainment outside of Canada, for which Muse Distribution International retains rights. The Fixer will be featured by Sonar during MIPCOM, 2014.

The Fixer is directed by Peter Howitt (Sliding Doors, Johnny English, Defying Gravity) and stars Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy) and Kathleen Robertson (Boss). Dane currently stars on The Last Ship and Robertson stars on Murder in the First, both of which recently premiered to strong ratings on TNT.

Suspicious of the “official answers” to an oil rig disaster, Ellie Molaro (Robertson), investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, spearheads a private investigation with a secret tipster named Carter (Dane). Carter claims that a conspiracy of “Fixers” are behind the worst disasters in the country, all rigged to manipulate the stock market, and reap billions for a select few. Now, their largest operation in decades is an impending, catastrophic event targeting Washington, D.C. and the only way they can succeed is if Ellie and Carter are among the casualties.

Legendary actor Ben Kingsley will star in TUT, a 6-hr. limited series from Muse Entertainment. Kingsley will bring his wealth of cinematic experience to the key role of “Ay,” the Grand Vizier to King Tutankhamun who wields tremendous power and influence as the top advisor to the young Egyptian ruler.

“TUT is the biggest and most ambitious project in Spike’s history. Who better to lead the cast than one of the greatest actors of our generation -- Ben Kingsley,” says Sharon Levy, Executive Vice President, Original Series, Spike TV. “The character he plays, Ay, is the true power behind the Tutankhamun throne. We are so fortunate to have an actor of Ben Kingsley’s stature to bring this character to life for Spike TV.”

“We are confident that Ben Kingsley's talents will help elevate this fascinating series to the highest international levels,” says Michael Prupas, CEO of Muse Entertainment. “Kingsley's acting experience will enhance this drama about Tutankhamen, the boy-king of Ancient Egypt, in a way that has never been told before.”

Ben Kingsley has earned an Academy Award®, two Golden Globes and two BAFTA Awards for his riveting portrayal of Indian social leader Mahatma in Gandhi and three additional Academy Award nominations for his roles in Bugsy, Sexy Beast and House of Sand and Fog. Kingsley’s other film roles include Schindler’s List, Shutter Island and the recent films Hugo, Ender's Game and Iron Man 3. His upcoming films scheduled for release include The Walk, Autobahn, Night at the Museum 3, Exodus and Selfless.

TUT will be shot entirely on location in Morocco and Canada from September – December 2014 and will debut on Spike TV in 2015. Muse Distribution International is selling the 6-hour television event globally.

This will be Spike TV’s first scripted event series in eight years and is another step in the network’s move to reaching a more gender-balanced audience.

Muse Entertainment is known internationally for its high quality productions, including The Kennedys, Being Human, The Pillars of the Earth and Bomb Girls.

Joel S. Rice and Michael Prupas serve as Executive Producers from Muse. The project is also executive produced by Greg Gugliotta (The Fosters), Michael Vickerman (Impact), Elice Island Entertainment’s Jeremy Elice, Angela Mancuso (Spartacus), and David Von Ancken (Hell on Wheels), who also directs. TUT is written by Michael Vickerman, Peter Paige & Bradley Bredeweg (The Fosters). Sharon Levy also serves as an Executive Producer. Producers are Irene Litinsky (Being Human), Guy Louthan (The Call) and Gilles Perrault (Being Human).

Popular actresses Laura Marano ("Austin & Ally") and Leigh-Allyn Baker ("Good Luck Charlie") team up to star in the comedic buddy adventure "Bad Hair Day," a Disney Channel Original Movie scheduled to premiere in 2015. Leigh-Allyn Baker makes her foray into producing as executive producer of the movie.

Marano stars as a high school tech whiz who's bound and determined to be crowned prom queen. But on the big day, everything that can go wrong does go wrong, starting with her sudden and epically uncontrollable hair and her once lovely yet now destroyed prom dress. She soon comes to rely on a down-on-her-luck cop (Baker) who's in pursuit of a missing necklace that the teen unwittingly has in her possession. Prom day goes from bad to mad as the pair is pursued by a dogged jewel thief on a wild ride across the city. Christian Campbell ("Neighbor") has been cast as the jewel thief.

Laura Marano stars in the hit comedy "Austin & Ally," the #1 series on TV among Tweens and the #2 series among Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11 for 2013. 2014 to-date, it is TV's #1 series in its primary timeslot among Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14. Marano was UNICEF Ambassador for the 63rd annual Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign.

For 100 episodes and a record-setting Disney Channel Original Movie, Leigh-Allyn Baker played mom Amy Duncan on the hit sitcom "Good Luck Charlie." Encore episodes continue to rotate on Disney Channels around the world. Baker also voices Queen Delightful in the new animated comedy series "The 7D" and is known for her recurring roles on "Charmed" and "Will & Grace."

In Total Viewers, five of the top six movies in cable TV history are Disney Channel Original Movies. Disney Channel has also presented five of the top six movies in cable TV history and the #1 TV movie telecast among Tweens for 12-consecutive years (2002-13).

Family Channel proved it had an APP-etite for success this past weekend as Zapped delivered the top non-sports specialty spot on Friday, June 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, drawing in an AMA of more than 643,200 viewers and reaching more than 1.1 million unique viewers (Ind. 2+).1 The newest Disney Channel Original Movie is now the most-watched specialty broadcast year-to-date with the network’s key demo of kids aged 6-12.2 Family swept the kids and girls aged 6-12 viewership on June 27 by also securing the #2 and #3 specialty programs rankings for the day.

Featuring mega-watt Disney star Zendaya, the premiere of Zapped ranked number one across all specialty stations on Friday with the network’s core audience of kids aged 6-12 and girls aged 6-12, and claimed the #2 position with boys aged 6-12.4 Family further showcased its ability to secure and retain its audience over the course of the night with a new episode of the network’s hit series Liv and Maddie leading into the program ranking #2 (K6-12, G6-12)5 and a sneak peek of the highly anticipated new series Girl Meets World capturing the third spot for the day in specialty programming (K6-12, G6-12).6

“Family is dedicated to delivering must-see programming events for young viewers and their families,” said Donna Dos Reis, Director, Programming, Family Channel. “The strong performance of Friday’s stellar lineup marks a successful start to our unmatched summer schedule and speaks to Family’s experience and position as Canada’s leading kids’ broadcaster.”

Zapped follows Zoey Stevens (Zendaya), a skilled dancer and straight-A student whose life is turned upside-down when her mother remarries and she finds herself as part of a family of rambunctious, chaotic and messy boys, and an unruly dog. After a freak accident with her smart phone, Zoey learns she has a magical app that can somehow control all the boys around her.

Beginning Friday, July 11, Zapped will be available on Family OnDemand and is joined soon after by the exclusive first-look episode of Girl Meets World on Friday, July 18.

DISNEY CHANNEL USHERED IN THE SUMMER FRIDAY WITH THE PREMIERE OF ORIGINAL MOVIE ZAPPED, WHICH DREW 5.7 MILLION VIEWERS.

The movie, which stars Zendaya (Shake It Up) as a teen girl with who discovers a smartphone app that controls the actions of boys, now ranks as the top cable TV telecast of 2014 among kids 2-11, kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14, according to Disney. The movie also averaged 1.3 million adults 18-49, according to the network.

June-17-14FEATURE DOCUMENTARY SKY JUMPERS TO AIR ON HISTORY MONDAY, JULY 21 AT 9PM ET/PT.

AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF LIFE, DEATH AND RENEWAL IN THE PERILOUS WORLD OF TOP-TIER COMPETITIVE SKYDIVING

Muse Entertainment’s documentary Sky Jumpers follows the world-renowned athletes of the PD Factory Team as they pursue one of the most dangerous sports in the world: skydiving. The 1x90 special will be broadcast Monday July 21, 2014 at 9pm ET/PT on HISTORY.

Jumping from 4000 metres above the earth, flying the gorges of the Grand Canyon, the fiords of Norway and the peaks of the Swiss Alps at speeds of 80 mph, the PD Factory’s Team’s mastery in the air is unparalleled. World champions and multiple record-holders, they push the boundaries of human flight where split second decisions make the difference between life and death. When the team is hit by a series of accidents and then a tragic loss, the pros are shaken to their core and must re-examine their choices. With spectacular photography and heart-stopping moments, Sky Jumpers is immersive, real time story-telling.

Co-Director and Writer of Sky Jumpers Hedy Korbee originally met Jay Moledzki, a four-time Canadian champion with seven world titles, in 2009 while he was on his own at the Canadian Skydiving Nationals near Welland, ON. He introduced her to his all-star team of canopy pilots based in Florida.

“We followed the team to the Swiss Alps, to Norway and other destinations where the team went speed flying, BASE jumping and team mountain flying, and competed in canopy piloting and wingsuit base jumping. We knew we had an incredible, real-time story when the cameras captured unexpected dramatic events, which sadly included a terrible accident and a tragic death,” said Korbee.

Sky Jumpers was shot over six years on 20 HD GoPros and Sony cameras worn by the skydivers on helmets, abdomens, hands and feet, with additional shooting by a professional documentary team. Sky Jumpers is a rare,full access experience that chronicles the PD Factory Team’s remarkable journey to hell and back again.

Sky Jumpers is executive produced by Ann Harbron and Michael Prupas of Muse Entertainment for Shaw Media and is being sold around the world by Muse Distribution International.

WORLD WAR II MUNITIONS WOMEN'S STORY GET A REWARDING FULL-LENGTH FILM WITH JODI BALFOUR, ALI LIEBERT AND MEG TILLY

"Bomb Girls” has extended one of the most entertaining stealth dramas on television into an engaging two-hour movie.

The Bomb Girls are workers at a Canadian munitions plant during World War II. They’re a diverse group whose stories work equally well as soap opera or as exploration of the deeper crises that surface on the home front during wartime.

“Facing the Enemy” pokes into the delicate matter of sabotage, at a time when German U-Boats are sinking an unsustainable number of Allied supply ships. Gladys Witham (Jodi Balfour), a woman of privilege who has had to fight for acceptance in the blue-collar world of Victory Munitions, is sent on an undercover mission to find who is sabotaging the sonar detection system. Issues of loyalty and ancestry immediately surface, while Gladys also tries to engineer the return of her best friend Betty (Ali Liebert), who has been the victim of some shady justice herself.

The whole cast is back for the movie, including Meg Tilly as Lorna Corbett, the tough but compassionate plant supervisor. “Facing the Enemy” advances several personal storylines from the first two seasons, but mostly focuses on a fast-moving and well-crafted drama in which Gladys must quickly learn to play several chess games at once. If she fails, the whole war effort could be crippled. “Bomb Girls” captures the era in an economical yet evocative way. We care about the characters, and we care about this story.

AN EPIC SCRIPTED MINISERIES BASED ON THE LEGENDARY EGYPTIAN PHARAOH TO BE PRODUCED BY MUSE ENTERTAINMENT

Spike TV is bringing the astounding saga of one of history’s most extraordinary rulers, Tutankhamun (King Tut), to television in a new landmark six-hour scripted event series.

“Tut” reveals, for the first time on television, the story of the Egyptian Pharaoh, one of the most renowned leaders in human history. This ambitious special-event series tells the story of King Tut's rise to power and his struggle to lead Egypt to glory, while his closest advisors, friends and lovers scheme for their own nefarious interests. “Tut” opens up a fascinating window into a world filled with heart-breaking romance, epic battles, political backstabbing, conspiracy, jealousy, and even murder -- proving his world was not far removed from our own -- and that his reign as the youngest Egyptian king played out as a real-life drama for the ages.

This will be Spike TV’s first scripted event series in eight years and is another step in the network’s move to reaching a more gender-balanced audience.

“We are thrilled to join forces with MUSE Entertainment and this incredible writing team to bring the amazing real story of one of history’s legendary leaders to life,” said Sharon Levy, Executive Vice President, Original Series, Spike TV. “Tut is the perfect addition to our slate of distinctive originals that appeal to a broad audience.”

“Tut” will be shot entirely on location in Morocco and Canada this fall and will debut on the network in 2015. The miniseries will be distributed around the world by Muse Distribution International.

Multi-talented recording artist/actress Zendaya ("Dancing with the Stars," "Shake It Up"), headlines the comedic Disney Channel Original Movie "Zapped," the story of Zoey, a girl whose well-ordered life is up-ended when her mother remarries and she finds herself part of a family composed of rambunctious, chaotic - and most of all - messy boys -- and a male dog, to boot. She finds salvation in the unlikeliest of places when she unwittingly comes into possession of a smartphone app that magically controls boys. Spencer Boldman (Disney XD's "Lab Rats") stars as Jackson, the one guy at school who stands apart from everyone else.

"Zapped" premieres FRIDAY, JUNE 27 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel, ushering in the premiere of the highly anticipated "Girl Meets World" (9:45 p.m., ET/PT), a comedy series for kids and families from executive producer Michael Jacobs ("Boy Meets World"). The movie is preceded by a new episode of "Jessie" (7:30 p.m.) in which Jessie races against obstacles and the clock, in a real-time countdown, to ensure the Ross kids get to school on time.

The movie was directed by Peter DeLuise ("16 Wishes," "Kyle XY") and executive-produced by Jane Goldenring ("Radio Rebel," "My First Mister"), Carol Baum ("Father of the Bride," "The Good Girl"), Michael Prupas ("The Kennedys," "Cyberbully") and Harvey Khan ("Spooksville"). The producer is Lisa Towers ("The Christmas Choir"). Based on the popular book Boys Are Dogs by Leslie Margolis, the screenplay was written by Rachelle Skoretz with revisions by Matt Eddy and Billy Eddy. Aakomon "AJ" Jones ("Pitch Perfect") is the choreographer.

Beginning Thursday, May 29, kids and families can visit DisneyChannel.com/zapped to play the new Zapped game and control the smartphone that controls the boys.

"Zapped" is produced by Off-Leash Teleproductions, Inc., distributed by Muse Distribution International and MarVista Entertainment and is licensed by ABC Cable Networks and Family Channel.

In Total Viewers, five of the Top six movies in cable TV history are Disney Channel Original Movies. That franchise has also delivered the #1 TV movie telecast among Tweens for 12-consecutive years. "Teen Beach Movie" is the #2 movie in cable TV history in Total Viewers (13.53 million) and the #2 TV telecast of all time across Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14.

April-23-14SHAW MEDIA AND MUSE ENTERTAINMENT START PRODUCTION ON MARCH TO THE POLE

DOCUMENTARY TEAM FOLLOWS INJURED CANADIAN VETERANS ON THE 2014 TRUE PATRIOT LOVE EXPEDITION TO THE MAGNETIC NORTH POLEFILM TO PREMIERE LATER THIS YEAR ON HISTORY

Shaw Media and Muse Entertainment announced today the start of production on March to the Pole, a documentary following four injured Canadian soldiers trekking into the High Arctic as part of their recovery. The soldiers are members of the True Patriot Love North Pole Expedition Team embarking on the largest expedition to the Magnetic North Pole in history. The film is slated to air later this year on HISTORY Canada.

"At HISTORY, we honour Canadian veterans with original documentaries, telling the firsthand stories of the men and women who have experienced war," said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media. "We are proud to be working on March to the Pole with outstanding organizations like the True Patriot Love Foundation and Muse Entertainment to give voice to Canadian veterans who have recently seen combat."

The Canadian veterans, who are recovering from physical and mental injuries sustained during tours of duty, are paired with some of the country's top business leaders for the two week trek to the Magnetic North Pole. They are also joined by Canadian women's hockey Olympic champions Caroline Ouellette and Geneviève Lacasse. The team left from Ottawa on Saturday, April 19 for Resolute Bay, Nunavut, where they spent three days preparing for the trip. Yesterday the team was dropped off 100 kilometres away from the Magnetic North Pole to begin their trek.

March to the Pole is produced by Muse Entertainment and Canadian Adventure Productions, in association with Shaw Media and HISTORY Canada. Jesse Prupas of Muse Entertainment serves as Producer, along with Ben Webster of Canadian Adventure Productions, who is also leading the production crew on the trek.

March-24-14“BOMB GIRLS: FACING THE ENEMY” TO PREMIERE IN U.S. ON REELZ THIS MEMORIAL DAY

REELZCHANNEL TODAY ANNOUNCED THE TWO-HOUR TELEVISION MOVIE "BOMB GIRLS: FACING THE ENEMY" IS SET TO PREMIERE MONDAY, MAY 26 AT 9PM ET/ 6PM PT, TRANSPORTING VIEWERS TO A DARK HOUR IN THE BATTLE FOR THE ATLANTIC.

Under constant pressure to turn out more bombs, as well as work on a new secret sonar line, the women of Victory Munitions band together in a tight bond of support and friendship. But when a disturbing menace appears in the form of a saboteur among the factory workers, Gladys Witham (Jodi Balfour), a fiery young woman from privilege, is covertly recruited by Allied Intelligence to find the traitor, forcing her to spy on her best friends, co-workers and fellow agents and call into question everyone and everything she trusts. "Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy" also stars Oscar®-nominee and Golden Globe®-winner Meg Tilly as Lorna Corbett, Charlotte Hegele as Kate Andrews, Ali Liebert as Betty McRae, Anastasia Phillips as Vera Burr, Antonio Cupo as Marco Moretti, Peter Outerbridge as Bob Corbett, Michael Seater as Ivan Buchinsky, Jamie Elman as Jakob Berman, and Catherine Berube as Helen Buchinsky. Viewers have an additional chance to watch "Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy" on Monday, May 26 at 11pm ET/8pm PT and again on Sunday, June 1 at 11am ET/8amPT.

"We are excited to share such an important story with our viewers this Memorial Day," said Stan E. Hubbard, CEO of REELZ. "With its magnificent cast, compelling characters and superb production, 'Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy' is the perfect way to honor our veterans and has appeal that spans generations."

"This special movie brings our beloved Bomb Girls face to face with the very real danger of home grown sabotage as the Battle of the Atlantic rages and the fate of democracy hangs in the balance," says Michael Prupas, Executive Producer. "Meeting the challenge posed by domestic enemies brings the war home in a way that audiences are sure to love".

"Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy" takes place in 1943 as the Battle for the Atlantic rages and an Axis victory seems inevitable. German U-boats patrol the ocean picking off ships, destroying much needed supplies and inflicting heavy casualties. The one hope the Allies have--production of newly developed sonar equipment--is moved to Victory Munitions when the British factories are bombed, and it's the duty of the women at the factory to band together and fight for their country. "Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy" is produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Film Productions in association with Shaw Media

Although the movie can stand alone, viewers can gear up for "Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy" when REELZ re-airs the first two seasons of the Gracie Award® winning, original drama series "Bomb Girls", starting on Sunday, April 13. Set in a time when society was experiencing fundamental changes in the workplace and at home, the first season of "Bomb Girls" presents the stories of the women who risked their lives in a munitions factory in support of the European front. Liberated from social and cultural restrictions, they embrace their newfound freedom, changing their lives--and the world around them--forever. Season two of "Bomb Girls" begins just after the attack on Pearl Harbor and draws viewers deep into 1942 with its music, fashion, romance and the thrill of being alive in dangerous times. A complete list of airdates and times is below:

Sunday, April 13Season 1: episodes 1-3 starting at 11am ET/8am PTSunday, April 20Season 1: episodes 4-6 starting at 11am ET/8am PTSunday, April 27Season 2: episodes 1-3 starting at 11am ET/8am PTSunday, May 4Season 2: episodes 4-6 starting at 11am ET/8am PTSunday, May 11Season 2: episodes 7-9 starting at 11am ET/8am PTSunday, May 18Season 2: episodes 10-12 starting at 11am ET/8am PTSaturday, May 24Season 1: all six episodes air back to back starting at 11am ET/8am PTSunday, May 25Season 2: episodes 1-6 air back to back starting at 11am ET/8am PTMonday, May 26Season 2: episodes 7-12 air back to back starting at 3pm ET/12pm PT

March-10-14MUSE ENTERTAINMENT BRINGS HOME THREE CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS!

MUSE BROUGHT HOME THREE CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS THIS YEAR FOR THE DRAMATIC SERIES BOMB GIRLS AND THE SUPERNATURAL SERIES BEING HUMAN.

The second season of Bomb Girls garnered two awards including: Best Costume Design (Debra Hanson) and Best Achievement in Casting (Lisa Parasyn, Jon Comerford). Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy, a two-hour movie event, will air on Global TV in Canada March 27th and Reelz Channel in the US (date TBA). Bomb Girls is produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Films.

The 13-part series Being Human, now in its fourth and final season, received the award for Best Achievement in Make-Up (Erik Gosselin & Edwina Voda) for the second year in a row. The series is produced by Muse Entertainment.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s new Canadian Screen Awards recognize excellence in film, television and digital media productions.

THE NORTH AMERICAN REMAKE OF THE UK SERIES WILL HAVE ITS SERIES FINALE ON MONDAY, APRIL 7 ON SYFY AND SPACE

With the second half of Being Human's 4th season set to kick off, our human-at-heart characters are about to embark on a journey full of twists, turns and surprises that will culminate in a spectacular series finale on Syfy and Space Channel Monday, April 7th.

Syfy has released the following statement "Showrunner Anna Fricke and the talented producers, writers, cast and crew have done an amazing job bringing this show to life over the past four seasons and we sincerely thank them and the series' production company Muse Entertainment for their hard work. They've saved the best for last with the final six episodes that revisit the story's beginning, leading to a not-to-be-missed send-off for Aidan, Sally, Josh and Nora."

Hallmark Channel announces the World Premiere of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” the network’s highly anticipated new Original Series, debuting Sunday, April 20 (8pm ET/PT, 7C), created and Executive Produced by Martha Williamson, best known as the creative force behind the mega-hit “Touched By An Angel.” The time slot represents Hallmark Channel’s expansion into Sunday evenings and a coming home for Williamson to the same time period once held by “Touched by an Angel.” The series stars Eric Mabius (“Ugly Betty”), Kristin Booth (“The Kennedys”), Crystal Lowe (“Smallville”) and Geoff Gustafson (“Primeval: New World”). Special guest-stars announced to-date include Golden Globe® and four-time Emmy® winning actress Valerie Harper (“Mary Tyler Moore,” “Rhoda”) and five-time Emmy® winner and two-time Golden Globe® nominee Dick Van Dyke (“The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “Diagnosis Murder”). Both stars will portray Supervisors in a revolving role that will feature television icons through the run of season one.

Hallmark Channel's new original series is a wonderful combination of romance, comedy and drama that follows the lives of four postal detectives who transform themselves into an untraditional team of detectives to track down intended recipients of undeliverable mail. Their missions take them out of the office and into an unpredictable world where redirected letters and packages can save lives, solve crimes, reunite old loves and change futures by arriving late but somehow always on time. The team includes charming Oliver O’Toole (Mabius), a genius postal detective and the group’s leader; new team member, Shane McInerney (Booth), a technophile who brings 21st century sensibility to the group; free-spirited, “girl next door” Rita Haywith (Lowe) who has a photographic memory; and lovable Norman Dorman (Gustafson), a master in conventional research methods.

THE AWARD-WINNING DRAMATIC SERIES BOMB GIRLS PRODUCED BY MUSE AND BACK ALLEY FILMS, THE SUPERNATURAL SERIES BEING HUMAN, PRODUCED BY MUSE, AND THE DOCUMENTARY FILM MARCH TO THE TOP, PRODUCED BY MUSE AND CANADIAN ADVENTURE PRODUCTIONS, BROUGHT HOME A TOTAL OF 10 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARD NOMINATIONS TODAY.

The second season of Bomb Girls brought in six award nominations including: Best Dramatic Series, Best Actress in a Dramatic Series (Meg Tilly), Best Achievement in Make-Up, Best Costume Design, Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series and Best Achievement in Casting. The first season of Bomb Girls garnered a slew of awards last year including: 3 Canadian Screen Awards, the prestigious Gracie Award in the U.S. and a Leo Award for Lead Actress Meg Tilly. A huge fan and critic favourite, Bomb Girls has just wrapped production on a two-hour television movie which will air this year.

The 13-part supernatural series Being Human, produced by Muse Entertainment, received three nominations including Best Actor in a Dramatic Series (Sam Huntington), Best Achievement in Make-Up and Best Visual Effects. The series previously won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Achievement in Make-Up and was nominated for five Gemini Awards during its first season. The fourth season of Being Human premieres tonight (Jan 13, 2014) on Syfy in the US and SPACE Channel in Canada.

The powerful, feature-length documentary March to the Top, was nominated for Best Original Music for a Non-Fiction Program or Series. The film, produced by Muse Entertainment and Canadian Adventure Productions, follows twelve ill and injured soldiers from the Canadian Forces journey half way around the world to the Himalayas, where they are pushed to their limits as they attempt to climb the 20,305 ft. giant known as Island Peak.

See below for a full list of Muse’s 2013 Canadian Screen Award Nominations:

The first season of Canadian drama series Played will receive its UK premiere on 5USA on Friday January 17th at 10pm, it has been announced.

Created by Greg Nelson, Played follows the Covert Investigations Unit (CIU), an elite Toronto-based undercover police unit formed to infiltrate criminal worlds, as they take on a new case and target each week. The drama series is produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Films and stars Vincent Walsh, Chandra West, Lisa Marcos, Dawn Murphy, Agam Darshi and Adam Butcher.

December-03-13'PLAYED' UPS THE ANTE AND MAKES IT A DOUBLE IN SEASON FINALE, DEC. 19

BLOCKBUSTER FINAL TWO EPISODES OF THE SEASON SET TO AIR BACK-TO-BACK ON CTV BEGINNING AT 9 PM ET/PT

PLAYED’s white-knuckle ride kicks into high gear when viewers experience the adrenaline-pumping undercover world of the C.I.U. with the final two episodes of Season 1 back-to-back. The freshman season of CTV’s original undercover cop drama comes to a close with two all-new episodes airing on the same night on Thursday, Dec. 19 beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, followed by the heart-stopping season finale at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Viewers can catch up on every minute of the action at CTV.ca and the CTV GO App, and can also watch full episodes of PLAYED live on CTV GO (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times).

PLAYED’s finale night kicks offs with “Hitmen” (Thursday, Dec. 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV) which follows Devil’s Guard, a notorious biker gang that is behind the murders of innocent people. The C.I.U.’s one chance to infiltrate the gang is to trust the biker’s hitman Richard Dansky (Joseph Kell, Lies and Deception). Together, he and Moreland (Vincent Walsh) discover why the gang is targeting innocent people, and in a showdown with the volatile and erratic gang leader, they bring the bikers to their knees.

The dramatic season concludes with the gripping finale “Revenge” (Thursday, Dec. 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV). All bets are off when Moreland’s worst nightmare comes true. Eight years ago, he infiltrated Charlie Mulcair’s (Shaun Benson, Populaire) gang. In the shoot-out that led to Mulcair’s arrest, his 12-year-old son was killed. Now out on parole, the convicted armed robber is bent on revenge. The vicious ex-con has been looking for Moreland and runs into him with his daughter, Emily (Zoé De Grand Maison, SAVING HOPE).

Fans of the series can also go deep undercover into the world of PLAYED with CTV’s new interactive digital series INTERFERENCE. Each episode follows undercover team members into the criminal underworld and when things go sideways, it’s up to viewers to intervene. Fans advance the plot and engage with the team through their cell phones, text messaging, and their Facebook profiles. INTERFERENCE is available exclusively on CTV’s digital platforms, including CTV.ca/Interference and on the CTV GO app.

PLAYED is produced by Muse Entertainment Enterprises and Back Alley Film Productions Ltd.in association with Bell Media. Executive Producers are Michael Prupas (THE KENNEDYS, BEING HUMAN), Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell (DURHAM COUNTY, BOMB GIRLS) and Greg Nelson (SAVING HOPE, ROOKIE BLUE), who is co-showrunner with Adrienne Mitchell. The series was created by Greg Nelson, and developed in association with Janis Lundman and Adrienne Mitchell. Tom Hastings is production executive for Bell Media. Trish Williams is Director, Independent Production, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

SIX-PART INTERACTIVE COMPANION SERIES BASED ON COP DRAMA SERIES “PLAYED”

CTV announced today that its latest original interactive digital series INTERFERENCE is now available. A multi-platform spin-off of CTV’s new original undercover cop drama PLAYED, INTERFERENCE is available exclusively on CTV’s digital platforms, including CTV.ca/Interference and on the CTV GO app. INTERFERENCE’s six original episodes are now available, allowing viewers to immediately engage with the series in its entirety. From interactive agency Secret Location, INTERFERENCE is partially financed by The Bell Fund.

The new interactive digital drama has PLAYED’s C.I.U. (Covert Investigations Unit) team at risk as Khali (Agam Darshi) discovers a massive security breach in the C.I.U. network. INTERFERENCE prompts viewers to get involved and interact with the series, triggering advancements in the story and becoming a key character in the plot.

INTERFERENCE is a chance for viewers to dive into the world of PLAYED and help the C.I.U. agents extract themselves from a series of high-stakes plays. Each episode follows undercover team members into the criminal underworld as they look to bring down the notorious Titan Syndicate, and when things go sideways, it’s up to viewers to intervene. In order for the plot to advance, viewers must interact with the episodes using their cell phones and text messaging, and their Facebook profile so they can connect to the team. But as each team member is brought to safety, it becomes apparent that the Syndicate’s reach goes deeper than ever expected, and interfering with them has dangerous consequences for everyone involved.

INTERFERENCE begins with the C.I.U. team deep undercover investigating the Titan Syndicate, when Khali discovers a massive security breach in the C.I.U. network. The entire team’s identities are out in the open and a mysterious hacker is interfering with the C.I.U.’s surveillance and communications, preventing Khali (Darshi) and Rebecca (Chandra West) from warning the undercover officers.

Oblivious to the threat, John (Vincent Walsh), Jesse (Adam Butcher), Daniel (Dwain Murphy), and Maria (Lisa Marcos) carry out their covert “plays,” while Khali and Rebecca resort to extreme measures and enlist the help of outsiders – the viewers at home – to steer the team out of deadly circumstances.

Viewers can catch full episodes of PLAYED live and on demand on the CTV GO app (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times), as well as on demand following the broadcast at CTV.ca.

PLAYED’s Interference is produced by Secret Location, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, and Back Alley Film Productions Ltd. in association with Bell Media and The Bell Fund.

PLAYED was created by Greg Nelson (SAVING HOPE, ROOKIE BLUE), and developed in association with executive producers Michael Prupas (THE KENNEDYS, BEING HUMAN), Janis Lundman and Adrienne Mitchell (DURHAM COUNTY, BOMB GIRLS). Greg Nelson serves as executive producer and is co-showrunner with Adrienne Mitchell. INTERFERENCE was directed by Gregory Smith (ROOKIE BLUE), written by Bobby Theodore (FLASHPOINT, MURDOCH MYSTERIES) with Karim Hussain, CSC (HANNIBAL, HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN) as director of photography.

Bomb Girls - The Movie takes viewers back to Spring 1943, as the Battle for the Atlantic rages and an Axis victory seems inevitable. German U-boats patrol the ocean picking off ships, destroying much needed supplies and inflicting heavy casualties. The one hope the Allies have - production of newly developed sonar equipment - is moved to Victory Munitions when the British factories are bombed. Then, in the darkest hour of the war, a new and disturbing menace appears - a saboteur among the factory workers.

Bomb Girl Gladys Witham (Balfour), a fiery young woman from privilege, is covertly recruited by Allied Intelligence to find the traitor on the new line. But she must spy on her best friends, coworkers and fellow agents, calling into question everyone and everything she has come to trust.

"The original cast is excited to be reunited and continue this amazing story of the bomb girls and their fierce commitment to the war effort and each other," says executive producer Adrienne Mitchell.

"Although set in the 1940s, this portrait of ultimate grace under extraordinary pressure resonates today," notes executive producer Janis Lundman.

Bomb Girls - The Movie is produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Film Productions in association with Shaw Media. The executive producers are Janis Lundman and Adrienne Mitchell (Bomb Girls, Played, Durham County), and Michael Prupas (Bomb Girls, The Kennedys). John Calvert (Bomb Girls, Flashpoint) is producer, Donald Martin (The Christmas Choir) is the script writer, Jerry Ciccoritti (Bomb Girls, Played) is the director, Eric Cayla (Bomb Girls, Durham County) is the director of photography, with Aidan Leroux (Bomb Girls, Played) as production designer and Michael Ground (Played) as costume designer. The film is distributed worldwide by Muse Distribution International.

IN AN ALL NEW ABC FAMILY ORIGINAL MOVIE PREMIERING SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8TH AT 8PM ET/PT

Jennie Garth (“Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Dancing with the Stars” ) and Cameron Mathison (“Dancing with the Stars,” “All My Children,” “Good Morning America”) prove you can go home again in the all new ABC Family original movie “Holidaze” premiering Sunday, December 8th (8:00—10:00pm ET/PT). The movie airs as part of ABC Family’s annual “25 Days of Christmas” programming event. Mary Kay Place (“The Big Chill,” “The West Wing,” “Big Love”) also stars.

In the movie, Melody Gerard (Garth), a high powered corporate workaholic for a retail conglomerate, is happy to spend the holidays jet-setting with her girlfriends. However, she’s in for an unpleasant surprise when her boss sends her to her sleepy hometown to convince the reluctant townspeople to allow them to build a new discount store. Now, forced to reconnect with her family and her childhood sweetheart Carter McClure (Mathison), her task is not so simple, as all are vehemently opposed to everything Melody’s company stands for. Desperate to get out of town and back to her “real” life, Melody takes a spill and wakes up in an alternate universe where she never left home and is married to Carter! Once determined to leave her small town life behind, Melody must make sense of her new life and decide if you truly can go home again.

Produced by Muse Entertainment, “Holidaze” is executive-produced by Greg Gugliotta, Michael Prupas and Jonas Prupas. Producer is Steve Solomos. The film is written by Michael Vickerman and directed by Jerry Ciccoritti.

October-07-13PROSIEBENSAT1 PICKS UP SIZZLING POLICE DRAMA PLAYED FROM MUSE DISTRIBUTION INTERNATIONAL

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PLAYED, a prime-time, dramatic series about elite undercover cops who pose as drug dealers, paid assassins, gun runners and gangsters to infiltrate criminal worlds and collect evidence, has been licensed by ProSiebenSat1 ahead of PLAYED’s MIPCOM launch.

PLAYED is Muse Distribution International’s latest hot, new prime-time series of 13 one-hour episodes. PLAYED was commissioned by the CTV network of Bell Media and is premiering this month in Canada.

An undercover “play” is a confidence game where cops pretend to be someone else. It is nerve-wracking, unpredictable and full of danger. If these cops aren’t convincing, if they aren’t real, if they miss one cue - their lives could be over in an instant.

PLAYED is produced by Muse Entertainment (The Kennedys) and Back Alley Film Production (Bomb Girls). It stars Vincent Walsh (Hemingway vs. Callaghan), Chandra West (NYPD Blue) and Lisa Marcos (Flashpoint).

Rüdiger Böss, Senior Vice President Group Programming Acquisitions at ProSiebenSat.1: ”We are looking forward to work together with Muse and are thrilled that we have secured the broadcasting rights of PLAYED for our German-speaking stations. PLAYED is the perfect match for our comprehensive portfolio of high-class crime series.”

“Muse is delighted to have ProSiebenSat.1 its broadcast partner in German speaking Europe. Its reach in that market is very deep and its audience fits perfectly with the smart contemporary show that PLAYED represents,” says Muse Entertainment’s President Michael Prupas.

ProSiebenSat 1’s license is for linear television and on-demand services in Germany, Austria, South Tyro/Alto Adige and German-speaking Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.

PLAYED, a dramatic series about elite undercover cops who pose as drug dealers, paid assassins, gun runners and gangsters to infiltrate criminal worlds and collect evidence, has been licensed by Channel 5 UK ahead of PLAYED’s MIPCOM launch.

PLAYED (13 x 1 hour) is Muse Distribution International’s latest series, commissioned by the CTV network of Bell Media. It is premiering this month in Canada. The series is produced by Muse Entertainment (The Kennedys) and Back Alley Film Production (Bomb Girls). It stars Vincent Walsh (Hemingway vs. Callaghan), Chandra West (NYPD Blue) and Lisa Marcos (Flashpoint).

An undercover “play” is a confidence game where cops pretend to be someone else. It is nerve-wracking, unpredictable and full of danger. If these cops aren’t convincing, if they aren’t real, if they miss one cue - their lives could be over in an instant.

Sebastian Cardwell, Acquisitions Manager at Channel 5 commented: “Channel 5 has always been a home for smart, sassy crime procedural drama. PLAYED is no exception, and we’re sure it’ll be a favourite with our audience.”

“Muse is delighted to have Channel 5 its broadcast partner in the UK. It’s reach in that market is very deep and its audience fits perfectly with the smart contemporary show that PLAYED represents,” says Muse Entertainment’s President Michael Prupas.

Muse Entertainment Enterprises has signed a first look deal with the award-winning indie producer Vérité Films. This deal allows both companies to benefit from each other’s strengths with Muse acting as co-producer and international distributor on Vérité’s future television projects.

“Vérité Films is a vibrant production company with an accomplished track record, including the long-running Canadian hit Corner Gas,” says Michael Prupas, president and CEO of Muse Entertainment. “We look forward to helping Vérité Films become a significant player in the world of international television production.”

“Vérité is thrilled to be working with Muse. In an increasingly global market, our goal is to focus on what we love most – supporting exceptional talent, incubating great ideas, and making outstanding television for Canada and the world,” says Virginia Thompson, co-founder and executive producer of Vérité Films.

“This deal allows us to use our resources to support established writers and champion new voices. It’s an exciting time for us,” says Robert de Lint, co-founder and creative head of Vérité Films.

Spike TV has optioned Muse Entertainment’s latest event television programming that takes an illuminating, new look at the extraordinary story of Tutankhamun, based on recently-discovered historical evidence. Tutankhamun (King Tut, 1333 to 1323 BC.), was the youngest Pharaoh who ruled Ancient Egypt.

If greenlit, TUT will be a ground-breaking, six-part, action-packed series combining the drama of power, political backstabbing, war and murder. Based on historical fact from DNA evidence recently unearthed, the dramatic scripted series will capture King Tut’s fascinating rise to glory, his efforts to rule a chaotic empire, and the enigma surrounding his untimely death.

TUT was developed by Muse Entertainment’s Joel S. Rice (Cyberbully) and Michael Prupas (The Kennedys) along with Greg Gugliotta (The Fosters), Michael Vickerman (Impact), Bradley Bredeweg (The Fosters) and Peter Paige (The Fosters). Vickerman, Bredeweg and Paige are the writers. TUT is executive produced by Rice, Prupas, Gugliotta and Vickerman. Sharon Levy is Spike TV’s Executive Vice President, Original Series.

With a backdrop of ancient Egypt in the opulent palace of the Pharaoh, dripping with gold and riches, a young Tut is thrust into power after the murder of his father. The neophyte ruler is forced to marry his sister in order to maintain the dynasty. Although Tut rules as Pharaoh, he is controlled like a puppet by three formidable men who plot against him and vie for the throne themselves. Against all odds, Tut grows from an insecure and manipulated prince to a hero on the battlefield, leading his kingdom into war and victory. Just as he takes control of his nation and his destiny, he is betrayed.

SLATED TO PREMIERE ON DISNEY CHANNELS AROUND THE WORLD & FAMILY CHANNEL (CANADA) IN 2014

Multi-talented actress, singer and dancer Zendaya ("Shake It Up," "Dancing With The Stars") stars in "Zapped," a comedy adventure movie slated to premiere on Disney Channels around the world, as well as on Canada's Family Channel in 2014. The storyline follows 16 year-old Zoey Stevens, a skilled dancer and straight-A student who is having a hard time adjusting to a new high school, a new and klutzy dance squad, a new step-dad, three new rowdy step-brothers and an unruly dog. But things change when a dog training app on her smart phone begins to somehow control all the boys around her.

Filmed on Vancouver Island, Canada, the movie is directed by Peter DeLuise ("16 Wishes," "Kyle XY") and executive-produced by Jane Goldenring ("Radio Rebel," "My First Mister"), Carol Baum ("Father of the Bride," "The Good Girl"), Michael Prupas ("The Kennedys") and Harvey Khan ("Spooksville"). Producer on the film is Lisa Towers ("The Christmas Choir"). Based on the book "Boys Are Dogs" by Leslie Margolis, the screenplay is written by Rachelle Skoretz with revisions by Matt Eddy and Billy Eddy and Kara Holden. Aakomon "AJ" Jones ("Pitch Perfect") is the choreographer.

"Zapped" is produced by Off-Leash Teleproductions Inc, distributed by Muse Distribution International and is licensed by ABC Cable Networks and Family Channel.

PEACE POINT RIGHTS APPOINTED SALES AGENT FOR SELECTED PROGRAMMING FROM MUSE ENTERTAINMENT IN CERTAIN TERRITORIES COMMENCING WITH PLAYED AND JFK: THE SMOKING GUN

Peace Point Rights and Muse Distribution International have entered an agreement that will see Peace Point representing content from Muse Entertainment’s extensive catalogue in selected territories. The first shows are the scripted procedural drama Played (13 x 60’)and the feature length documentary JFK: The Smoking Gun (1x90’ and 1x60’). Both will be represented by Peace Point in Latin America, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

“Muse Entertainment has a stellar reputation as one the industry’s finest producers and we look forward to working with them on these and many more exceptional titles,” said Les Tomlin, president, Peace Point Entertainment.

“Muse Distribution is delighted to be joining forces with Les Tomlin and his Peace Point Rights team in bringing to certain markets our prime time police procedural Played which will be aired this October on CTV in Canada and our highly anticipated JFK: The Smoking Gun which will be aired this November on Discovery Channel Canada, SBS in Australia and Reelz Channel in the U.S.,” said Michael Prupas, president, Muse Entertainment .

Played, produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Film Productions, is an ensemble procedural police drama that follows the activities of the CIU (Covert Investigations Unit), a police unit that goes undercover to infiltrate criminal organizations. In each episode, the detectives perform a high-wire, nerve-wracking act that requires a serious confidence game as they go undercover and convince the bad guys that, they too, are criminals - all the while trying to prevent their jobs from corroding their own lives.

JFK: The Smoking Gun is a special investigative documentary produced by Muse Entertainment and Cordell/Jigsaw/Zapruder, based on the work of Veteran Police Detective Colin McLaren who spent four years on the forensic cold case investigation of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. What he had, and other investigators did not, was modern technology and access to all the evidence, facts and eye-witness testimony. He managed to solve a crime that is every bit as shocking and incredible today as it was when it happened 50 years ago. A far cry from the fanciful conspiracy theories that surround the world’s most famous assassination, his case is methodically constructed from simple logic and available evidence using time-tested investigative techniques to solve the crime.

THE DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL THAT SOLVES JOHN F. KENNEDY’S ASSASSINATIONNOVEMBER 3, 2013 BROADCAST DATE SET

Sunday, November 3rd has been set as the initial broadcast premier date by Discovery Channel Canada for JFK: THE SMOKING GUN. The program will also premier on Reelz Channel in the US on November 3rd, while the initial broadcast date for SBS Australia will be November 10th.

This 2-hour special, co-produced by Canada’s Muse Entertainment and Australia’s Cordell/Jigsaw/Zapruder, follows the modern forensic investigation of this most famous crime by renowned Australian detective, Colin McLaren, and reveals who McLaren believes fired the “smoking gun” that killed JFK.

JFK: THE SMOKING GUN was filmed in Dallas, Texas and Montreal, Quebec with a script by Steve Lucas of Toronto under the direction of Malcolm McDonald, from Melbourne. The triggering broadcast licenses came from Discovery Channel Canada and from SBS Australia with additional funding from Reelz Channel in the U.S., the Canadian Media Fund and from Muse Distribution International.

JFK: THE SMOKING GUN is produced by Jesse Prupas (March to the Top) and Michael Cordell (Anatomy of a Massacre). Executive Producers are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys) and Simon Egan (The King’s Speech).

Muse Distribution International is distributing the event documentary throughout the world other than the UK, France, Germany and Italy, which are being handled by Zodiak Entertainment. Cordell/Jigsaw/Zapruder Films is distributing to the territories of Australia, New Zealand, Oceania and Asia.

July-15-13MUSE ENTERTAINMENT BEGINS PRODUCTION ON BEING HUMAN SEASON 4

STARRING SAM WITWER, MEAGHAN RATH, SAM HUNTINGTON AND KRISTEN HAGER

Muse Entertainment has begun production in Montreal of the fourth season of the hit supernatural series Being Human. The 13-episode series about three paranormal roommates, stars Sam Witwer (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Smallville), Meaghan Rath (Flashpoint, Cyberbully), Sam Huntington (Fanboys, Superman Returns) and Kristen Hager (A Little Bit Zombie, Servitude). The brand new season of Being Human will air on Syfy in the US and SPACE in Canada.

In Being Human, vampire Aidan (Sam Witwer), ghost Sally (Meaghan Rath), and werewolves Josh (Sam Huntington) and Nora (Kristen Hager), share the creature comforts of their brownstone while struggling to keep their supernatural secrets from the outside world. Together they strive to resist the temptations of their true paranormal natures and live lives that are as near to “normal” as possible.

Season Four of Being Human opens with the roommates coping with Josh, who is permanently a wolf, although the full moon has a very different effect on him now, which drives Nora to extremes in order to get her husband back. Visitors from Aidan’s haunted past, including an elusive character bearing an uncanny likeness to his long lost wife Suzanna (Katharine Isabelle), as well as his maker Bishop (Mark Pellegrino), collide with the present and Aidan is forced to make impossible decisions affecting those closest to him. Sally finds herself trapped alone with the witch, Donna (Amy Aquino), but her newfound magical powers may be more than either of them bargained for.

Executive Producers on the series are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Writer/Showrunner Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood), Stefan Pleszczynski (Motive, Flashpoint), Rob Pursey and Toby Whithouse. Irene Litinsky (Human Trafficking, The Phantom) is series Producer.

UGLY BETTY’S ERIC MABIUS AND THE KENNEDYS KRISTIN BOOTH STAR IN THE COMEDIC DRAMA; PRODUCTION HAS BEGUN IN VANCOUVER FOR WORLD PREMIERE OCTOBER 12

Touched by an Angel Executive Producer, Martha Williamson begins a highly anticipated return to television with Dead Letters, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie of the Week that's targeted to become a prime time series. Dead Letters tells the inspiring story of a group of postal detectives whose mission is to deliver letters and packages from the past, which arrive miraculously when they are needed most. The two-hour movie stars Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty, Outcasts, Cruel Intentions) as leader of the group, Oliver, and Kristin Booth (The Kennedys, The Newsroom, Banner 4th of July) as newcomer to the Dead Letter Office, Shane. Dead Letters will have its World Premiere on Hallmark Channel, Saturday, October 12 @ 9p.m. ET/PT, 8C. When greenlit, Dead Letters would air on Hallmark Channel in 2014.

Dead Letters, introduces a dedicated, quartet of civil servants in the Dead Letter Office of the U.S. Postal System who transform themselves into an elite team of lost-mail detectives. Their determination to deliver the seemingly undeliverable takes them out of the post office into an unpredictable world where letters and packages from the past save lives, solve crimes, reunite old loves and change futures by arriving late but always miraculously on time. The intrepid team is led by the charming and handsome, but idiosyncratic, Oliver (Mabius) who still considers the stamped and mailed letter to be the gold standard of human communication. His hapless team of lost letter experts, free-spirited Rita (Crystal Lowe, Smallville) and oddly-intuitive Norman (Geoff Gustafson, Primeval: New World), are thrown for a loop when a beautiful, no-nonsense technophile named Shane (Booth) is mistakenly transferred to their inner sanctum. Shane inspires the lovable crew to step up in a risky and unorthodox way, beginning with a chance to clear the name of a wrongfully accused man and reconnect him with the love of his life.

Martha Williamson made television history when her CBS series Touched By An Angel set a new standard for an inspirational family drama when it grew to a weekly audience of 25 million viewers during its initial nine year run. As Executive Producer and Head Writer of the ground-breaking series, she was the visionary who guided the series into previously uncharted territory with her unique brand of storytelling that produced more than strong ratings; it changed lives. She went on to seal her place in history when she became the first woman to solely executive produce two one-hours simultaneously with Promised Land, which aired for three years on CBS. Her work has been inducted into the Television and Radio Hall of Fame and honored with numerous awards, including the Edward R. Murray Responsibility in Television Award, the Templeton Prize Epiphany Award and nine Emmy nominations.

Dead Letters is a Special Delivery TeleProductions. Executive Producers are Martha Williamson, Joel S. Rice (Banner 4th of July), Michael Prupas (The Kennedys) and Jesse Prupas (Cyberbully). Harvey Kahn (Endgame) is the producer. Scott Smith (Call Me Fitz, This is Wonderland) directs from a script written by Martha Williamson. Muse Distribution International is handling worldwide distribution.

There’s a new kind of criminal-catching bounty hunter coming to CMT with the network’s first animated comedy series, BOUNTY HUNTERS, executive produced and voiced by Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall joined by series regular Lisa Lampanelli. The 13-episode series is set to premiere in the US on Saturday, July 13 at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT.

America’s favorite funny guys Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Engvall track down fugitives for their own two-bit bounty hunting business in each of the half-hour episodes. The team will do their best to chase down fugitives, while trying to please the tough-as-nails bondswoman who throws them cases, voiced by Lisa Lampanelli. The guys will have to deal with friends and family like Jeff's sassy ex-wife and her smarmy new husband, voiced by Samantha Bee and Jason Jones, and the local rednecks like Jesco (who just so happens to be Jeff's dad) voiced by Dave Thomas. Their bounties are always peculiar and are voiced by guest stars like Kellie Pickler. Blake Shelton, and Kix Brooks.

Muse Entertainment’s digital team (Alfred Hedgehog, Gawayn) has also teamed up with Big Jump Interactive (Urban Jumper, Beats in Bites' Beat Box Mixer, Zeely’s Adventure) to create a mobile (IOS & Android) game based on BOUNTY HUNTERS. Skeeter Creek Armchair Racer is an octane-fuelled racing app that fuses the plush comfort of your grandpa’s lazy-boy with the rip roaring fun of lawn mower racing, all while attempting to apprehend a bunch of low-life-bail-jumpers, inspired from the series, who are using the race to escape! The game is set to launch on July 13th, so stay tuned to CMT.com and the CMT Facebook and Twitter pages for Skeeter Creek Armchair Racer release dates and updates.

BOUNTY HUNTERS is produced by Muse Entertainment in association with Parallel Entertainment, with animation services provided by Big Jump Productions. Directed by Cory Morrison, it is co-created by Glenn Clements, Ben Levin and Matt Burnett. Eric Horsted is the showrunner. Executive producers are Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Engvall, Eric Horsted, and Glenn Clements, as well as Joel S. Rice, Michael Prupas and Jesse Prupas for Muse Entertainment. JP Williams and Jennifer Novak executive produce for Parallel Entertainment; along with Jayson Dinsmore, Eliot Goldberg and Joe Livecchi for CMT.

The Leo award winners were announced Saturday, June 8, 2013 in Vancouver, BC

The Muse Entertainment / Back Alley Film Productions television series Bomb Girls brought home two awards. Meg Tilly won Best Female Lead Performance in a Dramatic Series for the second year in a row for her portrayal of Lorna and Ali Liebert won the award for Best Female Supporting Performance in a Dramatic Series for her role as Betty.

The Leo Awards are the awards program for the BC film and television industry. “A Celebration of Excellence in Film and Television in British Columbia”

The Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to celebrate and promote the achievements of the British Columbia film and television industry through the presentation of an annual awards program – the Leo Awards.

MUSE ENTERTAINMENT/BACK ALLEY FILM PRODUCTIONS' NEW SERIES 'PLAYED' SET TO AIR THURSDAYS AT 10 PM

This fall, Thursdays at 10 p.m. becomes home to the next great Canadian scripted series as high-octane police drama Played lands in the prestigious post-Grey's Anatomy timeslot, previously home to both ratings winners Flashpoint and Motive.

In Played, the CIU (Covert Investigations Unit) risks going undercover to infiltrate and bring down criminal organizations. In this new style of short-term, high-intensity undercover work, each covert “play” is crafted quickly and executed at an even faster pace. Placed into various worlds of crime without a safety net, the cops are in constant danger, as they repeatedly go off the grid. Wearing wires, coaxing confessions, and setting up stings, the cops of the CIU must think quickly, talk smoothly, and rely on pure instinct. They slip in and out of characters so often that, sometimes, they lose track of who they really are.

The series stars Vincent Walsh (Deception, Lost Girl) along with Chandra West (NYPD Blue, John from Cincinnati). Also starring are Lisa Marcos (The Listener, Flashpoint), Dwain Murphy (Nikita), Agam Darshi (Sanctuary) and Adam Butcher (Bomb Girls).

Muse Entertainment’s Emmy®–Award nominated Michael Prupas is executive producer along with Gemini Award winning Adrienne Mitchell and Janis Lundman of Back Alley Film Productions. Played is a creation of Greg Nelson (Saving Hope, Rookie Blue) who is also an executive producer as well as co-showrunner with Adrienne Mitchell. The director of photography is Thom Best (The Bridge) and the production designer is Aidan Leroux (Bomb Girls). Episode directors are Adrienne Mitchell (Durham County), Charles Binamé (Cyberbully), Jerry Ciccoritti (Bomb Girls), Kelly Makin (Flashpoint), Rachel Talalay (The Wind in the Willows), Lee Rose (Lost Girl) and Paul Fox (Haven).

Earth faces the ultimate threat in the special two-part movie event EXPLODING SUN, premiering Monday, June 10 and Monday, June 17 at 9 p.m. ET on Space. Starring David James Elliott (JAG), Julia Ormond (MAD MEN), and Anthony Lemke (LOST GIRL), EXPLODING SUN follows the historic space launch of the Roebling Clipper, the first private passenger space plane which is set to make history when it flies around the moon and back in mere hours. With the world watching, a sudden spike in solar radiation sends the ship and its passengers straight towards the Sun, and ultimately triggers a massive solar storm that could end all life on Earth.

With only two days to save Earth from destruction, Dr. Craig Bakus (Lemke), the astrophysicist who oversaw the launch, and Commander Don Wincroft (Elliott), a decorated NASA astronaut and former fighter pilot, are forced to put aside their differences. Former best friends, Don is now married to Craig’s ex-wife and their old rivalries are brought to the forefront when the mission derails and Don is put in charge. At odds, out of options, and with the fate of mankind hanging in the balance, Craig and Don struggle to put their past behind them.

Meanwhile, the families of the civilians on the ship are forced to watch and hope. The civilian cargo includes Simone Mathany (Jane Wheeler, Journey to the Center of the Earth), the wife of the U.S. President; Peter Roebling (Bruce Dinsmore, ARTHUR), the creator of the civilian space program; Denise Balaban (Mylène Dinh-Robic, THE LISTENER), a systems analyst; Jose Hernandez (Luis Oliva, PROVIDENCE), who won a spot on the ship in a lottery; and Alan Elias (John Maclaren, BEING HUMAN), a world-renowned humanitarian, who left his wife Joan (Ormond) at their refugee relief camp in Afghanistan. For Joan, things become even more difficult when the camp’s communications are knocked out from the solar storm. Navigating an aggressive environment and an amoral warlord, Joan does what she must to save as many people as possible during the crisis.

Filming begins today in Dallas, Texas for JFK: The Smoking Gun, a special investigative documentary based on the work of Veteran Police Detective Colin McLaren who spent four years on the forensic cold case investigation of John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

What he had, and other investigators did not, was modern technology and access to all the evidence, facts and eye-witness testimony. He managed to solve a crime that is every bit as shocking and incredible today as it was when it happened 50 years ago. McLaren believes he has found the “smoking gun” that killed JFK.

McLaren’s findings are a far cry from the fanciful conspiracy theories that surround the world’s most famous assassination. His case is methodically constructed from simple logic and available evidence using time-tested investigative techniques to solve the crime; including key archival photographic evidence, medical reports and bullet science.

This two hour special with dramatic recreations takes audiences back to that tragic day in Dallas at Dealey Plaza where the shooting took place, to Parkland Hospital where the president was pronounced dead, to the Bethesda Naval Hospital where the autopsy was conducted and to the witness testimonies and proceedings at the Warren Commission that have remained controversial to this day. Ballistic experiments, CGI and 3D animation are also used to enhance the viewers’ experience.

The docu-drama is a Canada-Australia co-production and is produced by Muse Entertainment (The Kennedys) and Cordell/Jigsaw/Zapruder (Go Back Where You Came From) for Discovery Canada, SBS Australia and REELZCHANNEL in the US. It is written by Steve Lucas (Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science), directed by Malcolm McDonald (The Extraordinary Tale of William Buckley) and produced by Jesse Prupas (March to the Top) and Michael Cordell (Anatomy of a Massacre). Executive Producers are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys) and Simon Egan (The King’s Speech).

After Dallas, the filming continues in Montreal until the end of June.

JFK: The Smoking Gun will air in November 2013 to mark the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s death.

Muse Distribution International and Cordell/Jigsaw/Zapruder are sharing world distribution rights to the documentary special.

MUSE ENTERTAINMENT IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE SECOND SEASON OF THE SERIES BOMB GIRLS HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR FOUR LEO AWARDS INCLUDING BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE IN A DRAMATIC SERIES FOR MEG TILLY AND JODI BALFOUR, BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE IN A DRAMATIC SERIES FOR ALI LIEBERT AND BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE IN A DRAMATIC SERIES FOR ANTONIO CUPO.

This is the second year Bomb Girls has been nominated for the Leo Awards. In 2012, the series was nominated for two Leos. Meg Tilly brought home the award for Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series.

The Leo Awards are the awards program for the BC film and television industry. “A Celebration of Excellence in Film and Television in British Columbia”

The Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to celebrate and promote the achievements of the British Columbia film and television industry through the presentation of an annual awards program – the Leo Awards.

The winners of the 2013 Leo Awards will be announced at the Gala Awards Ceremony Saturday, June 8th in Vancouver.

The Banff World Media Festival announced today the full list of nominees for its annual Rockies Program Competition. The internationally-recognized Award program celebrates nominees in 26 categories, spanning multiple genres including Fiction, Non-Fiction, Kids & Animation and Interactive.

The series Bomb Girls, produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Film Productions, was nominated in the Continuing Series Drama category alongside House of Cards, The Big C and The Following.

NEW ONE-HOUR DRAMA SERIES FROM MUSE ENTERTAINMENT & BACK ALLEY FILM PRODUCTIONS - SERIES IS TO DEBUT IN THE UPCOMING 2013/2014 BROADCAST SEASON ON CTV

Muse Distribution International, the international distributor of PLAYED, is pleased to announce that principal photography began this week in Toronto. The 13-part, one-hour, scripted, episodic, drama series, set to debut on CTV for the upcoming 2013/2014 broadcast season, is being produced by Muse Entertainment Enterprises (The Kennedys, Being Human) and Back Alley Film Productions (Bomb Girls, Durham County) in association with CTV. PLAYED tracks an undercover police unit as it infiltrates criminal organizations through different case stories or “plays”.

The series stars Vincent Walsh (Deception, Lost Girl) along with Chandra West (NYPD Blue, John from Cincinnati). Also starring are Lisa Marcos (The Listener, Flashpoint), Dwain Murphy (Nikita), Agam Darshi (Sanctuary) and Adam Butcher (Bomb Girls). They work in the CIU (Covert Investigations Unit), going undercover to infiltrate and bring down criminal organizations.

In this new style of short-term, high-intensity undercover work, each covert “play” is crafted quickly and executed at an even faster pace. Placed into various worlds of crime without a safety net, the cops are in constant danger, as they repeatedly go off the grid. Wearing wires, coaxing confessions, and setting up stings, the cops of the CIU must think quickly, talk smoothly, and rely on pure instinct. They slip in and out of characters so often that, sometimes, they lose track of who they really are.

Muse Entertainment’s Emmy®–Award nominated Michael Prupas is executive producer along with Gemini Award winning Adrienne Mitchell and Janis Lundman of Back Alley Film Productions. PLAYED is a creation of Greg Nelson (Saving Hope, Rookie Blue) who is also an executive producer as well as co-showrunner with Adrienne Mitchell. The director of photography is Thom Best (The Bridge) and the production designer is Aidan Leroux (Bomb Girls). Episode directors are Adrienne Mitchell (Durham County), Charles Binamé (Cyberbully), Jerry Ciccoritti (Bomb Girls), Kelly Makin (Flashpoint), Rachel Talalay (The Wind in the Willows), Lee Rose (Lost Girl) and Paul Fox (Haven).

Muse Entertainment is filming the television movie Star Spangled Banners (titled Banner 4th of July in the U.S.), starring Christian Campbell (Big Love), Brooke White (American Idol), Michael Barbuto (An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving) and Mercedes Ruehl (The Fisher King), in North Bay, Ontario. The film will have its World Premiere on Saturday, June 29th at 9 pm ET/PT, 8C on Hallmark Channel and will also air in Canada on Bell Media’s Bravo channel.

In Star Spangled Banners, Brooke White plays Desiree Banner, a record company owner who has struggled to find happiness since leaving the band she once headlined with her brothers Mitchell (Campbell) and Johnny (Barbuto). When her mother Rosalind (Ruehl) suddenly has a heart attack, Desiree returns to her hometown of Pinewood Hills and learns the town will face bankruptcy if it can’t make a bond repayment by the July 4th Holiday. Confined to bed and hating every minute of it, Rosalind, who also happens to be Mayor of Pinewood Hills, has secretly hatched a plan to repay the town’s debt. Rosalind has booked The Banners Project in a reunion concert at the town’s annual Fourth of July festival. The reunion concert will be a big deal, bringing in people from all over the country. The ticket sales alone will cover the debt.

As Desiree attempts to work with her brothers to conjure up a long-term solution to Pinewood’s financial crisis, she must face her past mistakes head on, including the bad blood with Mitchell. As the Fourth of July approaches, it is up to Desiree and her siblings to put their family feud aside and help their beloved hometown recover from hard financial times.

THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS AND PRODUCERS OF BOMB GIRLS ARE SADDENED TO LEARN THAT BOMB GIRLS IS NOT BEING RENEWED AS A SERIES FOR A THIRD SEASON.

We are very proud of the remarkable work done on this series by our writers, cast and crew. Together we told stories that were proudly Canadian, that illuminated fascinating aspects of our history and celebrated the astonishing women and men who fought so hard for our freedom.

Moving forward, we are planning to produce a television movie for Global Television this year that will allow our characters to continue their journeys and allow our audience to engage with the Bomb Girls’ stories.

We are deeply moved by the embrace that viewers of all ages and demographics have given to the show and by the spontaneous support we are receiving from thousands of Bomb Girls fans across North America and Europe.

MUSE ENTERTAINMENT IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE SECOND SEASON OF THE SERIES BOMB GIRLS HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR TWO MONTE CARLO TELEVISION AWARDS INCLUDING BEST INTERNATIONAL TV DRAMA AND OUTSTANDING ACTRESS FOR MEG TILLY.

This markes the second year that both Bomb Girls and Meg Tilly have been nominated for the awards.

The critically acclaimed series stars Academy Award® nominee Meg Tilly (Agnes of God,The Big Chill) and Jodi Balfour (The Sinking of the Laconia). Gemini award-winner Michael Seater(Life with Derek) is joining the cast as Ivan, a gregarious factory worker and object of interest of the girls working the assembly line at Victory Munitions.

The series Bomb Girls is produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Film Productions Limited in association with Shaw Media. The executive producers are Janis Lundman (Durham County, Bliss), Adrienne Mitchell (Durham County, Bliss), Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth) and Michael MacLennan (Flashpoint, Queer as Folk). Mitchell is also director on the first two episodes and is co-showrunner and co-creator of the series along with Michael MacLennan who is also head writer. The show is distributed worldwide by Muse Distribution International.

The Monte Carlo Television Festival is an international festival and competition focusing on productions for television, founded 1961 and based in Monaco.

The Kennedy family saga continues to fascinate people from North America to Europe. Following The Kennedys miniseries, Muse Entertainment will produce After Camelot with Euro Media Group. The project is inspired from the book of the same title by J. Randy Taraborrelli. We met Michael Prupas, Muse’s president and CEO at MIPTV‘s Espace Québec, and asked him about the story behind this upcoming production.

“The first series ended with Robert Kennedy’s assassination. The second series will also look at the family aspect as opposed to the political and economic ones. It will start with the new generation as Ted Kennedy finds himself with the weight of the world on his shoulders. The expectations of the American people were enormous and the hope for change appeared to have faded with the death of Robert, especially for African Americans. Ted was the only man left in the family and had to care for fifteen children. Part of him was very courageous but he was also afraid of responsibility at times.” After Camelot will also cover the relationship between Jackie Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis, as well as the plane crash that took the life of John Jr. near Martha's Vineyard on July 16th, 1999. The series will end with Ted Kennedy’s speech supporting Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential campaign.

As some may remember, History Channel decided not to broadcast the first series directed by Jon Cassar. The cable network ReelzChannel ended up purchasing the rights. The Kennedys was also broadcast in Canada on Super Écran and History Television, and in Belgium and France on France 3 and Arte. “ReelzChannel obtained fantastic ratings so they decided to support the sequel,” says Prupas. “It will be a co-production, mostly Canadian with French minority partner Euro Media. Filming will take place in Canada and post production will be done in France.”

Muse is also planning another big television project: Played (13 x 60 minutes), co-produced with Canada’s Back Alley Film Productions. The series will follow undercover police officers. “CTV has agreed to broadcast it during primetime starting in September,” says Prupas. “It will be a high-end production written by Greg Nelson and directed by Adrienne Mitchell. It’s worth mentioning that this will mark the first time ever that a mainstream Canadian network will broadcast a Canadian series during primetime to compete with the big American shows. We are under a lot of pressure to meet big expectations. Fortunately, we are happy to have the financial support of the FTQ Fund since January 2013.”

Of course, we cannot talk about Muse Entertainment without mentioning its biggest success of the past year, Bomb Girls. The series’ broadcast began in Canada in January 2012 on Global. ReelzChannel started to air it in the U.S. in September, and then Great Britain followed via ITV3 in November and Ireland with TG4 in January 2013. “The Netherlands also bought it and we just finalized a broadcast deal covering Turkey, Greece, Russia and Finland,” Michael Prupas tells us. Bomb Girls has been a very successful series and received a Gracie Award last February for Outstanding Drama. Gracie Awards are attributed by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation and honor outstanding writing and production. The series Revenge was last year’s Gracie winner. Will there be a third season of Bomb Girls? The head of Muse would not confirm at the time of our meeting.

SYFY IS ORDERING A FOURTH SEASON (13 EPISODES) OF THE HIT DRAMA SERIES BEING HUMAN, IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY MARK STERN, PRESIDENT OF ORIGINAL CONTENT, SYFY AND CO-HEAD OF ORIGINAL CONTENT, UNIVERSAL CABLE PRODUCTIONS.

The announcement comes on the heels of the Season 3 finale which aired Monday, April 8 and in time for Syfy’s Upfront presentation this evening in New York City.

Being Human stars Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, Sam Huntington and Kristen Hager as vampire Aidan, ghost Sally and werewolves Josh and Nora. Together they struggle to suppress their supernatural secrets and temptations and live their lives as close to normal as possible.

“‘Being Human’ really hit its stride creatively this year,” said Mark Stern. “This show has become a signature series for Syfy and we are thrilled to have it return in 2014.”

Being Human has been an all-around performer for Syfy both on-air and via digital distribution as well as in the social media space. It remains one of Syfy’s youngest and most female-skewing scripted dramas.

Inclusive of Live +7 data, Season 3 of Being Human is averaging 1.8 million total viewers, including 1.1 million Adults 18-49 and 1.1 million Adults 25-54, and is a top ten cable program in its time period among both key demos.

Being Human is a Muse Entertainment production and is based on the acclaimed series created by Toby Whithouse and produced by Touchpaper. Executive producers are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood) who is both writer and showrunner, and Rob Pursey and Toby Whithouse. Irene Litinsky (Human Trafficking, The Phantom) is series producer.

A 2-HR DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL THAT SOLVES JOHN F. KENNEDY’S ASSASSINATION TO BE LAUNCHED AT MIPTV

Veteran Police Detective Colin McLaren spent four years on the forensic cold case investigation of JFK’s assassination. What he had, and other investigators did not, was modern technology and access to all the evidence, facts and eye-witness testimony. He claims to have solved a crime that is every bit as shocking and incredible today as it was when it happened 50 years ago. McLaren believes he has found the “smoking gun” that killed JFK.

McLaren’s findings are a far cry from the fanciful conspiracy theories that surround the world’s most famous assassination. His case is methodically constructed from simple logic and available evidence

This special investigative documentary with dramatic re-creations takes audiences back to that tragic day in Dallas at Dealey Plaza, to Parkland Hospital where the president was pronounced dead, to the Bethesda Naval Hospital where the autopsy was conducted and to the conclusions of the Warren Commission that have remained controversial to this day. It uses time-tested investigative techniques to solve the crime.

The documentary special is produced by Muse Entertainment (The Kennedys) and Cordell/Jigsaw/Zapruder (Go Back Where You Came From) for Discovery Canada, SBS Australia and ReelzChannel in the US. It is written by Steve Lucas (Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science), directed by Malcolm McDonald (On the Trail of Genghis Khan) and produced by Jesse Prupas (March to the Top) and Michael Cordell (Anatomy of a Massacre). Executive Producers are Michael Prupas (Pillars of the Earth) and Simon Egan (The King’s Speech).

The documentary is shooting this summer and will be ready for delivery in early October to mark the anniversary of JFK’s death on November 22, 1963.

Muse Distribution International, Cordell/Jigsaw/Zapruder and Zodiak Rights are sharing world distribution rights to the documentary.

I believe that stories work best when they are rooted. That if you watch a movie set in New York...you want to be believe the filmmakers know New York. If you watch a TV show set in England, you appreciate dialogue peppered with a few English colloquialisms.

I tend to revisit a theme about Canadian identity in pop culture, usually in the context of criticizing Canadian movies and TV shows for either blatantly pretending they aren't Canadian, or for admitting they are Canadian but in an indistinct, vague sort of way.

But there are those that buck the trend, unselfconsciously rooting their stories in the world their characters live. I'm not actually a big fan of the private eye dramedy, Republic of Doyle (CBC) -- but I'm the first to say that what gives it a flavour and tone all its own is its Newfoundland setting.

And a series can embrace its cultural idiosyncracy without losing universality. It's easy enough for those of us not on the east coast to infer that when the characters refer to the "RNC" they mean the police...even if it might take us a bit to realize it stands for "Royal Newfoundland Constabulary."

I was thinking about this catching a recent episode of Bomb Girls (Global) after it came back from a mini-hiatus.

Bomb Girls is the World War II drama-cum-soap opera focusing on the Canadian homefront and the gals (and guys) working at a munitions factory. And I'll stick my neck out and say Bomb Girls is probably the best Canadian series being made right now, at least when you consider its different elements.

It works as simple pulp entertainment -- it's got a diversity of almost archetypal characters you like and can get caught up in their dramas. But it's also a little bit offbeat from most of the stuff on the dial...even as it falls within a familiar period drama niche (shared by Mad Men and Downton Abbey). And despite being called Bomb "Girls" a guy can get just as involved in the drama (this ain't, say, Sex and the City which, so I understand, counted the majority of its fanbase as female).

And it pulls it all off with a certain deliberate style -- but not to the point of camp. So it conjures old movies in cinematography, colour schemes, fashions, colloquialisms, and scenes of guys wandering around kitchens in undershirts and suspenders -- while grafting on very contemporary, provocative themes of race, gender, and sex.

The shame of it is that Canadian producers are quick to try and shop internationally series that are fairly generic -- such as CTV's cop drama Motive (which will apparently be airing on ABC in the States) and the sitcom Seed (City TV). Yet Bomb Girls is a series I could easily see developing a true cult following abroad, precisely because of the way it straddles being familiar and accessible (many nations shared similar homefront experiences) while being a little offbeat and atypical.

And part of the formula is how they work in period details with the soap opera drama.

In the recent episode, a sub-plot involves Lorna (Meg Tilly) trying to get a phone at a time when a home telephone was almost a luxury. Yet instead of seeming like a frivolous B-plot with gags about "party lines" (where different homes share a single line), they were smart enough to tie it into an actual human drama aspect of the story. Lorna secures a phone even as she worries about the fate of her sons overseas...the phone going from being a treasured prestige to a nightmarish shriek every time it rings, as Lorna fears it will be the call telling her her boys are dead.

Cleverly handled.

Likewise, the use of the Dieppe landing serves as an effective backdrop to the episode. Dieppe being a notoriously ill-fated assault (though some cited it as an important learning step to victory). Canadian troops did much of the fighting and suffered most of the losses (I'm guessing an American war time drama wouldn't use Dieppe as the backdrop for an episode).

But it's also cleverly handled because we see the story from the POV of the people at home, initially excited about this major invasion, then getting a bit more uncomfortable when reports seem to be sketchy, until finally, by episode's end, it is confirmed that the invasion failed.

There was another intriguing reference in the episode that probably a few viewers missed. At one point, Lorna chides the pessimism of her husband (Peter Outerbridge) by suggesting he is the "Voice of Doom." To a modern viewer the line makes enough sense: he says things that seem gloomy.

But to Canadians in the 1940s, the Voice of Doom had a specific meaning...and identity. Namely, broadcaster and actor, Lorne Greene.

The man who to later generations would be a cowboy in Bonanza, a space man in Battlestar Galactica, and our guide to the New Wilderness, started out as a news reader for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. And during the dark war years became known as the "Voice of Doom."

Knowing that, the line in Bomb Girls takes on an extra resonance as a historical "pop cultural" reference.

I suspect the makers of Bomb Girls had to be a bit coy using the reference. Canadian networks are somewhat notorious for their territorialism -- refusing to acknowledge each other's existence in their dramas. I'm cynical enough to think the makers of Bomb Girls were only able to slip in the "Voice of Doom" (and CBC) reference because they knew no one at Global TV would catch on to it.

Part of the strength of Bomb Girls is the fact that it seems un-selfconscious and unapologetic about its Canadian setting. It isn't like the writers are struggling to cram in some awkward Canadianism just to say they could...but because they're trying to be true to these characters and their world.

SECOND SEASON OF CANADIAN MUNITIONS WORKERS' STORY, STARRING MEG TILLY AND JODI BALFOUR, LOOKS TO BE A BLAST

"Bomb Girls,” titled after women who work in a Canadian munitions factory at the dawn of World War II, succeeds for the same satisfying reasons as cable dramas like “White Collar” and “Rizzoli & Isles.”

It focuses on stories we can understand and characters we like. Nothing trendy, nothing exotically obscure, no apologies for making jokes we get and generating soap suds we’ve seen before.

Originally envisioned as a six-episode miniseries, “Bomb Girls” is now launching a 12-episode second season, and you wouldn’t even call it a guilty pleasure. It’s just an entertaining story.

As we return to Victory Munitions, floor matron Lorna Corbett (Meg Tilly) must cope with the distressing fact that her night with rogueish Marco Moretti (Antonio Cupo) has left her in a family way.

Rich girl Glady Witham (Jodi Balfour) has to decide whether to follow her heart and hang out with the factory girls, or stick with her tedious and cold family.

Catalogued that way, it sounds flat. On the screen, it comes alive, as the women deal with sons and boyfriends going off to war, their own emerging liberation, and a free world that must make both large and small sacrifices to maintain that freedom.

There are small dramas, like Kate’s halting path toward music, and big dramas, like the resistance of the old guard to almost every change the war is accelerating.

And if you want to catch up on the first season, it airs in its entirety starting Wednesday at noon.

Muse Entertainment is filming the holiday television movie Christmas with Tucker, about a young boy who learns about love and friendship while caring for an abandoned dog on his grandparents' farm during Christmas. James Brolin (Castle, The West Wing) stars as Bo, the grandfather of 13 year-old George (Gage Munroe), who is struggling with the recent passing of his father. Josie Bissett (The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Melrose Place) plays George’s mother Jill.

Christmas with Tucker is filming in North Bay, Ontario and will have its World Premiere during the 2013 Christmas holiday season on Hallmark Movie Channel. The film will also air in Canada on Bell Media’s Bravo channel.

MUSE ENTERTAINMENT BROUGHT HOME A TOTAL OF FIVE CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS FOR THE DRAMATIC SERIES BOMB GIRLS, THE SUPERNATURAL SERIES BEING HUMAN AND THE TELEVISION MOVIE CYBERBULLY.

Bomb Girls, now in its second season, garnered three awards including: Best Performance by An Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (Meg Tilly), Best Costume Design (Joanne Hansen) and Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Fiction Program or Series (Aidan Leroux). Bomb Girls was also awarded the prestigious Gracie Award in the U.S. for Best Dramatic Series. The Gracie Awards are presented by the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM). Bomb Girls is produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Films.

The 13-part series Being Human, now in its third season, received one award for Best Achievement in Make-Up (Emilie Gauthier & Erik Gosselin). The series is produced by Muse Entertainment in association with ZODIAK USA.

The television movie Cyberbully, the tragic and triumphant story of one teen's experience with online bullies, won the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series (Emily Osment). Cyberbully is a Muse Entertainment production.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s new Canadian Screen Awards recognize excellence in film, television and digital media productions.

THE MUSE/BACK ALLEY SERIES WON THE GRACIE AWARD® FOR OUTSTANDING DRAMA

Bomb Girls along with other national and grand award winners will be honored at the 38th Annual Gracie Awards® Gala to be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. The Gracies, presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation and named in honor of the legendary Gracie Allen, recognize the realistic and faceted portrayal of women in entertainment, commercials, news, features and other programs. Bomb Girls takes place during WWII and tells the stories of women who risk their lives in a munitions factory in support of the European front.

“What a fantastic achievement for Bomb Girls,” said Michael Prupas, President and CEO of Muse Entertainment. “To be recognized with a Gracie Award® is a particularly special honor considering that the awards recognize remarkable women and that’s exactly what’s at the core of Bomb Girls—the stories of fearlesswomen who pushed societal boundaries and stepped into power like nobody before them.”

“We’re delighted to be recognized by the Alliance for Women in Media,” said Adrienne Mitchell, co-creator of Bomb Girls and Executive Producer at Back Alley Film Productions. “This series honors the incredible stories of the sacrifices made by women working on the home front during World War II and we’re proud to bring these stories to life for younger generations.”

“We’re thrilled Bomb Girls received this award from the Alliance for Women in Media,” said Janis Lundman, co-owner andExecutive Producer at Back Alley Film Productions. “The series depicts a very challenging and rewarding period for these women where the dangers from working with bombs went hand in hand with the pride of supporting their family for the first time while also answering the call of duty for their country.”

Bomb Girls returns on Reelz for a second season with the first episode of the season premiering on Wednesday, March 27 at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT followed by episode two at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT.

Taking place just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bomb Girls season two draws viewers deep into 1942 with its music, fashion, romances and the thrill of being alive in dangerous times. While The Allies begin to deeply feel the price of combat, the women and men of Victory Munitions continue to find ways to flourish under adversity forging unexpected bonds of friendship and love. Starring Oscar-nominee and Golden Globe winner Meg Tilly (Agnes of God, The Big Chill), season two also features a guest star appearance by multiple Emmy Award-winner Rosie O’Donnell.

Reelz will also air two catch-up marathons of Bomb Girls for those who may have missed season one. All six episodes will air back to back on Saturday, March 2 starting at 11am ET/ 8am PT and again on Wednesday, March 27 starting 12pm ET/ 9am PT.

MUSE ENTERTAINMENT'S TELEVISION MOVIE CYBERBULLY BROUGHT HOME TWO AWARDS INCLUDING: BEST ONE-OFF, SPECIAL OR TV MOVIE AND BEST DIRECTING (CHARLES BINAMÉ).

At the award's presentation event on Feb 6th, hosted By The Daily Show‘s Samantha Bee, the year’s best work in children’s television was singled out and celebrated by the Global Kids’ Entertainment Industry at the Kidscreen Summit in New York.

THE RE-IMAGING OF THE BRITISH SERIES BEING HUMAN HAS BEEN PICKED UP BY A BRITISH BROADCASTER.

The made-in-Montreal series will soon air on U.K. entertainment channel Watch.

Based on the BBC series of the same name, Being Human follows three roommates -- a ghost, a vampire and a werewolf -- living in Boston. It stars Sam Witmer, Meaghan Rath and Sam Huntington.

The show's third season is currently airing on the U.S. cable channel SyFy and the Canadian channel SPACE.

Canadian Screen Awards

January-15-13MUSE BRINGS IN 13 CANADIAN SCREEN NOMINATIONS!

SIX NOMINATIONS FOR BOMB GIRLS, FIVE FOR CYBERBULLY AND TWO FOR BEING HUMAN

Muse brought in a whopping 13 nominations today for the Canadian Screen Awards, which honors exceptional achievements in Canadian film, television and digital media.

The dramatic series Bomb Girls garnered six nominations including: Best Dramatic Series, Best Costume Design, Best Direction in a Dramatic Series (Adrienne Mitchell - Jumping Tracks), Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series, Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Fiction Program or Series, Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (Meg Tilly) as well as one nomination for Best Cross-Platform Project Fiction (Bomb Girls Interactive).

The television movie Cyberbully brought in five nominations including: Best Dramatic Mini-Series or TV Movie, Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series, Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series (Kelly Rowan) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series (Emily Osment).

The supernatural television series Being Human was nominated for two awards including: Best Achievement in Make-Up and Best Visual Effects.

Muse would like to congratulate all the cast and crew nominated for this year's Canadian Screen Awards! Best of luck!

Muse News

January-15-13FONDS DE SOLIDARITÉ FTQ INVESTS IN MUSE ENTERTAINMENT

THE FONDS DE SOLIDARITÉ FTQ (THE “FONDS”) TODAY ANNOUNCED A NEW INVESTMENT IN MUSE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES (“MUSE”).

“The Fonds de solidarité FTQ is pleased to add Muse Entertainment to its cultural investment portfolio,” said Janie Béïque, the Fonds’ senior vice-president of natural resources, industries and consumer goods. “A Canadian leader in TV production, Muse is a growing company with expertise in international coproduction and a well-established worldwide distribution network.”

“Muse is fortunate to have the Fonds de solidarité back its growth,” said Muse president and CEO Michael Prupas. “Our Canadian and Québec teams have a bright future ahead of them in international TV production.”

The Fonds de solidarité FTQ and the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ have invested over $111.9 million in the last 30 years to back Québec's cultural enterprises. Investments made in the Fonds’s current 46 partners in the cultural sector have helped create, maintain and protect almost 900 jobs.

About the Fonds de solidarité FTQ

Created in 1983, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ has been driving our economy for 30 years. With net assets of $8.8 billion as of November 30, 2012, the Fonds is a development capital investment fund that channels the savings of Quebecers into investments in all sectors of the economy to help further Québec's economic growth. Its investments contribute to the creation and maintenance of jobs in Quebec businesses and favour economic development. The Fonds is a partner, either directly or through its network, of more than 2,000 companies. With its close to 600,000 owner-shareholders, it has helped, on its own or with other financial partners, to create, maintain and protect close to 170,000 jobs. For more information, visit www.FondsFTQ.com.

Welcome to the world of highly skilled and brave detectives who give the word "undercover" a whole new meaning. Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports, announced today from the Television Critics Association tour in Pasadena, CA that CTV has ordered a new Canadian drama series from critically acclaimed Muse Entertainment Enterprises and award-winning Back Alley Film Productions. CTV has ordered thirteen, one-hour episodes of PLAYED (working title), an ensemble, procedural police drama that follows the activities of the CIU (Covert Investigations Unit), a Toronto-based police unit that goes undercover to infiltrate criminal organizations. In each episode, the detectives perform a high-wire, nerve-wracking act that requires a serious confidence game as they go undercover and convince the bad guys that, they too, are criminals - all the while trying to prevent their jobs from corroding their own lives.

The announcement follows CTV's pick-up today of the new Canadian comedy series SATISFACTION. The two programs join CTV's burgeoning lineup of original scripted series including MOTIVE, SAVING HOPE, and THE LISTENER.

PLAYEDis developed for television by Gemini Award winning executive producers Adrienne Mitchell and Janis Lundman (BOMB GIRLS, DURHAM COUNTY), Emmy®-Award nominated Michael Prupas (THE KENNEDYS, BEING HUMAN), and Greg Nelson (SAVING HOPE), who is creator and co-showrunner with Mitchell. PLAYED is set to begin production in Toronto this spring.

"PLAYED is a suspenseful, adrenaline-filled ride," said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports "This ensemble series will show viewers a gritty and modern take on the gruelling life of undercover cops."

"PLAYED is a contest of wits between undercover cops and their targets. It's about selling yourself as authentic, the anticipation of whether or not the target buys you, and the threat of what they'll do to you if they don't," said executive producers Janis Lundman and Adrienne Mitchell of Back Alley Films.

"PLAYED will bring audiences into the world of undercover cops in a way that they have never seen before. It is completely original and explosive. We are extremely appreciative of the enthusiastic support of CTV in launching this series in a very competitive scheduling environment," said Michael Prupas, President and CEO of Muse Entertainment.

PLAYED sees the CIU (Covert Investigations Unit) take on a new case and target each week. The unit designs the operation and executes each case undercover as they infiltrate criminal worlds, collect evidence, and make arrests. The undercover CIU detectives build relationships with bad guys, whether coaxing confessions, buying drugs and guns in covert sting operations, infiltrating high finance scams, or immersing themselves with a crew of bank robbers. Today's fast-paced times demand equally rapid detective work: these cops work quickly, plunging into the deep end and into high stakes scenarios with short, intense timeframes. Then, after posing as various criminals, the members of the CIU flip the switch and try and go home to their "normal" lives as spouses and parents.

PLAYED is produced by Muse Entertainment Enterprises and Back Alley Film Productions in association with Bell Media. Executive producers are Adrienne Mitchell, Janis Lundman, Michael Prupas, and Greg Nelson, who is also creator of the series. Adrienne Mitchell and Greg Nelson are co-showrunners. Tom Hastings is production executive for Bell Media. Trish Williams is Director, Independent Production, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

Muse News

January-09-13ANN HARBRON HEADS MUSE’S NEW FACTUAL DIVISION

FORMER DIRECTOR OF COMMISSIONING AND PRODUCTION, DISCOVERY CHANNEL CANADA

Ann Harbron has come on board to lead Muse Entertainment’s entry into non-fiction programming and becomes Managing Director of Factual Programming, a new executive position at the production company’s brand new Toronto office that opened four months ago in Liberty Village.

Harbron is the former director of commissioning and production at Discovery Channel Canada and is known for leading the channel’s original programming slate to record ratings and acting as network Executive Producer on factual and reality hits such as Canada’s Worst Driver, Canada’s Greatest Know It All, Last Day of the Dinosaurs and How William Shatner Changed the World. Programs under her supervision generated numerous awards and industry recognition.

“We are delighted that Ann, with her extensive network experience, production knowledge and relationships in Canada and internationally, will be leading Muse’s launch into the exciting and popular world of factual entertainment,” says Michael Prupas, Muse Entertainment’s president and CEO.

“I am thrilled to be joining such an esteemed Canadian production company.

WITH JENNIE GARTH AND CAMERON MATHISON SET TO PREMIERE THANKSGIVING 2013 ON ABC FAMILY

Muse Entertainment, in association with ABC Family, will begin production this week on the new original Thanksgiving movie “Home Again” (working title).Jennie Garth (“Beverly Hills, 90210,” “What I Like About You”) and Cameron Mathison (“Dancing with the Stars,” “All My Children,” “Good Morning America”) will star in the movie, which is set to premiere as part of the network’s annual “Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas” programming event in November, 2013. Also cast in the movie is Mary Kay Place (“The Big Chill,” “The West Wing,” “Big Love”).

In the movie, Melody (Garth), a high powered corporate workaholic for a retail conglomerate, is happy to spend the holidays jet-setting with her girlfriends. However, she’s in for an unpleasant surprise when her boss sends her to her sleepy hometown to convince the reluctant townspeople to allow them to build a new discount store. Now, forced to reconnect with her family and her childhood sweetheart Carter (Mathison), her task is not so simple, as all are vehemently opposed to everything Melody’s company stands for. Desperate to get out of town and back to her “real” life, Melody takes a spill and wakes up in an alternate universe where she never left home and is married to Carter! Once determined to leave her small town life behind, Melody must make sense of her new life and decide if you truly can go home again.

Executive Producers of “Home Again” are Michael Prupas, Jonas Prupas and Greg Gugliotta and Producer is Steve Solomos. Teleplay is by Michael Vickerman, and Story by Michael Vickerman & Ann Gunder, and directed by Jerry Ciccoritti.

Proud Canadian soldiers – injured in battle – make it to the top of Island Peak in the Himalayas – as Mount Everest looms behind them. Watch their compelling story March to the Top on the Documentary Channel and CBC – coming in January 2013!

Muse Entertainment is thrilled to announce that the rights to J. Randy Taraborrelli’s bestselling book After Camelot, which is a personal history of the Kennedy family from 1968 to the present, have been acquired by Muse and that REELZ has entered into a co-development agreement with Muse to produce a miniseries. Muse Entertainment will be responsible for production of the miniseries and for international distribution. Keri Selig of Intuition Productions brought the project to REELZ and will serve as an executive producer. The miniseries based on After Camelot marks the third collaboration between Muse Entertainment Enterprises and REELZ including the Emmy Award® winning The Kennedys and the WWII-era drama series Bomb Girls.

“With The Kennedys miniseries we saw tremendous response to powerful storytelling along with an intense interest in this remarkable family. In his book, J. Randy Taraborrelli tells the incredible true story of the Kennedys from 1968 to today,” said Stan E. Hubbard, CEO of REELZCHANNEL. “The Kennedy family is truly a part of the fabric of America and we’re thrilled to once again work with our partners at Muse Entertainment Enterprises to bring our viewers this fascinating and continuing story.”

“The Kennedy family continued to make an indelible mark on the life of America and the world after Robert Kennedy’s assassination, including universal healthcare and the creation of the Special Olympics,” said Michael Prupas, President and CEO of Muse Entertainment Enterprises. “We are privileged to collaborate with REELZ, with J. Randy Taraborrelli and with Keri Selig to bring After Camelot to television audiences.”

“J. Randy Taraborrelli is one of the great biographers of our time and I’m proud to be working with him on this project,” said Keri Selig, Owner and Founder of Intuition Productions. “As soon as I read After Camelot, I knew that REELZ, with their dedication to high-quality television and respectful handling of The Kennedys miniseries, was the perfect home for this modern epic. I’m thrilled to continue my collaboration with Muse having worked with them on the movie It Must Be Love and I look forward to forming a new relationship with REELZ on this miniseries for After Camelot.”

After Camelot– A Personal History of the Kennedy Family 1968to the Present is based on J. Randy Taraborrelli’s extensive research, including hundreds of exclusive interviews and captures the wealth, glamour and fortitude for which the Kennedys are so well known. Like the book takes its readers, the miniseries will take its viewers on an epic journey of the ongoing saga of the nation’s most famous – and controversial – family.

After Camelot is the most recent of J. Randy Taraborrelli’s 13 New York Times best-sellers. He is also the author of Jackie, Ethel, Joan - Women of Camelot, another New York Times bestseller for him in hard cover and paperback, as well as a highly-rated miniseries for NBC starring Jill Hennessey as Jackie Kennedy and Lauren Holly as Ethel Kennedy. Moreover, he is the author of Michael Jackson - The Magic and the Madness (also nominated for a W.H. Smith award in England) as well as Call Her Miss Ross; The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe; Madonna – An Intimate Biography and Elizabeth Taylor, all New York Times bestsellers.

When The Kennedys made its world premiere on REELZ, the miniseries brought in record viewership for the network, reaching 17.5 million viewers* in its premiere month and grossing more than 35 million viewers since debuting in April 2011. (*Source: Nielsen Media Research data 4/3-5/1/2011. Reflects Live+7 P2+). Reach based on a 1-minute qualifier. This Thanksgiving, viewers can see where it all began when REELZ airs two marathons of The Kennedys miniseries. On Thursday, November 22, 2012, all eight hours of The Kennedys air back-to-back starting at 8am ET/ 5am PT.

Then, Oliver Stone’s Academy Award® winning JFK will air at 4pm ET/ 1pm PT, followed by another marathon starting at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT giving viewers a second chance to see all eight hours of The Kennedys airing back to back.

The Kennedys relives the public and private joys and tragedies of the most influential family in the world including fraternal rivalries, mob associations, the drugs and the women. The miniseries recreates the political crises that John F. Kennedy dealt with in the early days of his presidency including the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war and the Civil Rights Movement. Viewers will see every twist and turn of this family’s extraordinary story up to and including the assassinations of JFK and RFK.

Boasting an all-star cast led by Emmy®-nominee Greg Kinnear as John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Barry Pepper who won the Emmy Award for Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his portrayal of Robert F. Kennedy, The Kennedys also features powerful performances from Katie Holmes as Jacqueline Kennedy and Emmy-nominated Tom Wilkinson OBE as Joseph Kennedy, Sr. Nominated for 10 Emmy Awards, the miniseries won a total of four as well as three Gemini Awards, five Directors Guild of Canada Awards, a History Makers International Award, a Directors Guild of America Award and a New York Festivals International TV & Film Grand Trophy Award. The Kennedys is a Muse Entertainment Enterprises production in association with Asylum Entertainment.

With a new season of Bomb Girls in the works and fans already brimming with anticipation, Muse Entertainment is thrilled to announce the addition of the talented and incomparable Rosie O’Donnell as a special guest star in Episode 209, currently shooting in Toronto.

For six years, Rosie O’Donnell was America’s best friend. For an hour each day she served as host and executive producer of the critically acclaimed and Emmy Award winning nationally syndicated talk/variety series “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.” In her first season on the air, she won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host. She continued her success for five consecutive seasons by winning Daytime Emmy’s for both Outstanding Talk Show Host and Outstanding Talk Show. Rosie was also seen on daytime television as moderator on the tenth season of ABC’s “The View,” and hosted the satellite radio show, “Rosie Radio” on SiriusXM. She returned to television hosting in the fall of 2011 with “The Rosie Show” on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network through spring 2012.

Bomb Girls, starring Oscar®-nominee and Golden Globe®-winner Meg Tilly, takes place during World War II and captures a period when society was experiencing fundamental changes in the workplace and at home. At the heart of Bomb Girls are the stories of women who risk their lives in a munitions factory in support of the European front. Liberated from social and cultural restrictions, they embrace their newfound freedom, changing their lives—and the world around them—forever. Season two of Bomb Girls begins just after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Bomb Girls airs on Global TV in Canada, Reelz Channel in the U.S. and ITV3 in the UK.

Bomb Girls is produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Film Productions Limited in association with Shaw Media.

ReelzChannel has announced that they have picked up the exclusive US rights to the 12 episode second season of Bomb Girls. The move to pick up the second season of the World War II drama series comes shortly after the successful launch of the series on Reelz back in September. The show’s second season, which picks up just after the attack on Pearl Harbour, features special guest star Rosie O’Donnell (The Rosie O’Donnell Show) and is set to premiere on ReelzChannel in Spring 2013.

Speaking of the pick up, Stan E. Hubbard, CEO of ReelzChannel, said: “Based on the enthusiastic response to Bomb Girls from our viewers, we’re thrilled to partner with Global TV, Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Film Productions for a second season with 12 new episodes. The second season is full of surprises, including one episode with guest star Rosie O’Donnell.”

The six episode first season of the Canadian World War II drama series Bomb Girls will receive its UK premiere on ITV3 on Saturday November 10th at 10pm, it has been announced.

Michael Prupas, CEO of Muse Entertainment, negotiated the deal with Sasha Breslau, head of acquired series for ITV.

Bomb Girls originally aired on Canadian network Global earlier this year and has been picked up for a second season. It has also been sold to Dutch pay-TV net Cello and US cable network Reelz.

The drama focuses on women working in a munitions factor and stars Jodi Balfour, Charlotte Hegele, Ali Liebert and Meg Tilly. Michael MacLennan is the head writer of the show, which is executive produced by Michael Prupas (Muse Entertainment), Janis Lundman and Adrienne Mitchell (Back Alley Films) and Michael MacLennan.

The 8-hour historical drama stars Greg Kinnear, Katie Holmes, Barry Pepper and Tom Wilkinson and is a production of Muse Entertainmentin association with Asylum Entertainment.

The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) is a national labour organization that represents over 3,000 key creative and logistical personnel in the screen-based industry covering all areas of direction, design, production and editing.

The third season of Syfy’s hit drama series Being Human will premiere on Monday, January 14 at 9PM, it was announced today. Being Human stars Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, and Sam Huntington with Kristen Hager, joining this year as a series regular. The season will consist of 13 episodes.

Season 2 ended with Aidan (Sam Witwer) buried alive as punishment from vampire leader Mother, Sally (Meaghan Rath) lost in a state of limbo, and Josh’s (Sam Huntington) plot to kill his Maker Ray, endangering Nora instead.

The new season also features a stellar lineup of new and returning guest stars including:Mark Pellegrino (Lost, Revolution) as Aidan’s vampire mentor Bishop; Amy Aquino (Harry’s Law, ER) as Donna, a witch whose supernatural spells are sought out to help find Sally; Xander Berkeley (Nikita) as Liam, father of purebred werewolf twins who is intent on locating his missing children; Bobby Campo (Final Destination) as Max a young mortician who develops a connection with Sally; and Kyle Schmid (Copper/The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) returning as Aidan’s vampire protégé/”son” Henry.

Season 2 of Syfy’s Being Human delighted both fans and new viewers seeing its audience increase over its first season. This year the show averaged 2.115 million viewers per week (10% over Season 1) and also increased double digits in key demos: 1.27 million Adults 18-49 (+19%) and 1.28 million Adults 25-54 (+23%).

Being Human is a Muse Entertainment production in association with ZODIAK USA and is based on the acclaimed series created by Toby Whithouse and produced by Touchpaper. Executive producers are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood) who is both writer and showrunner, Jeremy Carver and Rob Pursey and Toby Whithouse. Irene Litinsky (Human Trafficking, The Phantom) is series producer.

If you like the kind of drama that USA does so well — not a lot of fancy production touches, just characters whose stories you want to follow — you can sample a hidden gem next week when the Reelz Channel launches “Bomb Girls.”

Set in the early days of World War II, it centers on the women who work in a munitions factory.

Since war has a way of creating unlikely communities, Victory Munitions brings together working girls, society girls, idealistic young men, cynical old men and a black man.

There’s a lot of soap here, with the characters falling in and out of love and creating an unending web of personal minidramas.

It also tackles the larger, thornier issues of the time, like the mistrust of immigrants, the resentment of blacks and, mainly, the “role” of women.

With subtlety more than hammers, it illustrates the hurdles women had to clear to be taken seriously, or even to be heard.

Meg Tilly plays Lorna Corbett, shift supervisor at the factory. She intuitively understands that things are changing and must change, but at the same time she knows the practical advantage of playing by the rules.

Jodi Balfour has the glamour role as Gladys Witham, the daughter of rich, cold and calculating parents who see her as a chip they will marry off to enhance their financial and social standing.

She wants more, so she fights to work on “the line” at the factory, where cordite turns everyone’s skin yellow.

She’s an object of suspicion there, but gradually befriends girls including Kate Andrews (Charlotte Hegele), daughter of a psychotic street preacher, and Betty McRae (Ali Liebart), who has sexuality issues.

We also meet a dozen other characters, all of whom fit well into a drama that’s simultaneously small and expansive.

“Bomb Girls,” a Canadian production conceived as a six-episode miniseries and now set for a second 12-episode season, isn’t a fancy show. It’s just a whole bunch of good stories. As USA has proven, less can sometimes be more.

Shaw Media announced the start of production on Season 2 of Bomb Girls, currently shooting 12 X 1-hour episodes in Toronto now until mid-December 2012. Last season, Bomb Girls made its indelible mark as the #1 new Canadian series, and the program will return to Global Television in the new year (date to be announced).

The critically acclaimed series stars Academy Award® nominee Meg Tilly(Agnes of God,The Big Chill) and Jodi Balfour(The Sinking of the Laconia). Gemini award-winner Michael Seater(Life with Derek) is joining the cast as Ivan, a gregarious factory worker and object of interest of the girls working the assembly line at Victory Munitions.

This season Bomb Girls takes us back to 1942 - the war is in full swing, and it seems the Axis forces are winning every battle. With the demand from the Allies increased due to bombed-out factories abroad, folks at Victory Munitions are busier than ever - both inside the plant and out of it.

For shift matron Lorna Corbet (Tilly), something has got to give. The demands of her job, family and her own burgeoning need to define herself stirs things up at home and at work. Meanwhile, Gladys Witham (Balfour) is tiring of living under the shadow of her powerful family. Working at Vic Mu has fed her desire for independence, but she learns that making her own decisions doesn't guarantee she'll get what she wants.

Marco Moretti, played by Antonio Cupo (L'Ombra del destino), faces the challenges of his Italian heritage at a time when Canada is at war with Italy. He wants to do his part for the war effort, but confronts hostility from the powers-that-be. Betty McRae, played by Ali Liebert (Hellcats), searches for home both literally and figuratively, grappling with her identity, working to feel safe in her world. And what of Kate Andrews? Played by Charlotte Hegele (Murdoch Mysteries), can she return to the world and its promise of freedom, or will the shackles of her past overwhelm her? Still learning to live a life where her beauty is no longer the most outstanding asset, Vera Burr, played by Anastasia Philips (Skins), braves a world-view where her smarts can be just as important as her looks.

Bomb Girls is produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Film Productions Limited in association with Shaw Media. The executive producers are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Janis Lundman(Durham County), Adrienne Mitchell (Durham County) and Michael MacLennan (Flashpoint, Queer as Folk). Mitchell is director on the first two episodes and is co-showrunner of the series along with Michael MacLennan who is also head writer. The show is distributed worldwide by Muse Distribution International.

This new IFC original series from Alan Spencer is far darker, more violent, and mind-bending than his classic comedic 80s series Sledge Hammer!

Set in a city called Bruteville, which is neither American nor European but vaguely both, Bullet in the Face is a grim and violent study of modern film noir in explicit graphic novel style. Far darker and more brutal than most comedies, Bullet in the Face utilizes a sleazy cast of characters covering the tropes of crime stories: the tough-as-nails, brassy female police commissioner; the true-blue cop mourning the death of his partner; the eccentric and fabulously wealthy crime lord; the mysterious, deceitful femme fatale.

And yet it is a comedy. Career criminal Gunter Vogler is shot in the face by his girlfriend, hitman (hitwoman?) Martine during a heist gone wrong. In addition, he shoots and kills a cop, only to wake up in the hospital with his victim's face transplanted onto his own and a shady deal offered by the Bruteville police department: work for the good guys and help rid the city of crime lords Tannheuser and Racken (Eddie Izzard and Eric Roberts), or spend the rest of his life in prison (or worse).

Anti-hero Vogler’s tragic life and sordid past are a lark to him, as is the dead cop he shot and the horrific violence that erupts all over the city around him. The police commissioner is a tacky, under (or over?) sexed cougar with a quirky set of morals, long plastic nails and over-coiffed hair. The crime lords are alternately incredibly stupid and incredibly mentally ill. It’s funny. There’s no ‘straight man’ in Bullet in the Face; everyone is a terrible person and everyone gets what they deserve. It’s cartoonish and melodramatic, but also intense and riveting.

The six episodes that make up season one are fantastical; Bullet in the Face exists in that nether world of Sin City, where realistic characters would end up in mental institutions, prison, or dead, but where Spencer’s characters are larger-than-life and pulsating with charisma and energy. They live in a city that is devoid of law and order despite the trappings of law and order. The series toys with the concepts of good and evil and how to choose between the two, as Vogler must decide whether to truly help the police rid Bruteville of crime because it is the right thing to do, or if he will do so because he wants revenge on his former boss Tannheuser. Or if he will do anything at all except laugh at crime scenes. Vogler is completely unpredictable and is not the morally changed man the police department had hoped he would become. But as Lt. Hagerman (Vogler’s new partner) says to the commissioner, “When you fight evil with evil, evil still wins.” And everyone on this show is evil, more or less.

The cast takes dangerous material and shapes it well; Eddie Izzard’s comedic timing, for instance, makes Tannheuser a lovable, insolently intelligent, and almost sympathetic creature. Eric Roberts plays the brutish American Racken as almost childishly naïve about love. And Max Williams brings the magnetism and attraction necessary to the role of Vogler to keep him from being a purely detestable creation. Vogler is vile, sociopathic, and completely untrustworthy, but he’s the star of the story and the character with which audiences with identify despite his atrocious corruption.

Spencer seems to enjoy German accents and German names for his creations; just another example of his quirky, offbeat humor, along with racial puns and sexual harassment jokes. The show takes jabs at just about everyone, but in a sly, underhanded and bizarre manner instead of the sarcastic and blatant ways shows like Family Guy or Futurama do. This is not a lighthearted comedy – it’s extremely dark, Adam Rifkin’s-Dark Backward-dark.

The aggressive level of violence is refreshing; there are serious advantages to having a series like this air on cable rather than network television. Definitely gory, ridiculously vicious, and so wonderfully unpredictable, Bullet in the Face has original charm in a time when television comedy is woefully, painfully unfunny and dumb. It crosses genres successfully, appealing top people with a sick sense of humor as well as those who love unrelenting action and gunfire in their entertainment. It isn’t like anything else out there.

6 NOMINATIONS FOR THE KENNEDYS, 1 NOMINATION FOR BOTH BEING HUMAN AND CYBERBULLY

The DGC congratulates the 2012 DGC Awards nominees announced today in Toronto. Selected from close to 180 submissions, the nominees in 19 categories represent a cross section of the industry's outstanding talent working in the screen-based industry.

The Awards will be presented at the annual Gala on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the prestigious Royal York Hotel. Hosted by multi-talented comedian, actor and musician Séan Cullen, the 2012 edition of the DGC Awards marks the 50th anniversary of the DGC.

In Being Human, vampire Aidan (Sam Witwer) ghost Sally (Meaghan Rath) and werewolf Josh (Sam Huntington) share the creature comforts of their Boston brownstone while struggling to keep their supernatural secrets from the outside world. Together they strive to resist the temptations of their true paranormal natures and live lives that are as near to “normal” as possible.

As the new season unfolds, Aidan resurfaces from being “grounded” and finds the vampire community vastly changed; he must find a new approach to feeding that will change his life forever. Sally fights to return from limbo and Josh must deal with an ominous visitor who comes to Boston looking for him and Nora.

Kristen Hager, who recurred throughout the first 2 seasons of Being Human playing Josh’s (Sam Huntington) girlfriend Nora, will return this season as a regular series cast member. Nora, it was revealed in the Season 2 opener, had been turned into a werewolf by Josh and plays a significant role in the drama’s tense Season 2 cliffhanger. Kristen Hager previously appeared in supporting roles in the features Wanted with Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy and Todd Haynes’ Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There with Cate Blanchett and Richard Gere. On television she has recurred on CSI: Miami and guest starred on NCIS: Los Angeles.

This year, in its second season, Being Human experienced impressive double-digit growth in key demos as well as total viewers season over season. Premiere episodes for Season 2 averaged 2.1 million total viewers per episode (+10% vs. Season 1), 1.3 million Adults 18-49 (+19%) and 1.3 million Adults 25-54 (+23%). It remains Syfy’s youngest and most female skewing scripted series.

Executive Producers are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Jeremy Carver (Supernatural), Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood) who is also writer/showrunner, and Rob Pursey and Toby Whithouse. Stefan Pleszczynski is Supervising Producer and Irene Litinsky (Human Trafficking, The Phantom) is series Producer.

Being Human is a Muse Entertainment production in association with Zodiak USA. It is based on the acclaimed series, Being Human, created by Toby Whithouse and produced by Touchpaper Television, part of Zodiak Media.

MEG TILLY EARNED THE LEO AWARD FOR THE BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE IN A DRAMATIC SERIES IN BOMB GIRLS.

The actress couldn't be in Vancouver because of theatrical commitments. Her award was accepted by Bomb Girls costar Ali Liebert.

But Tilly, who is a BC mainstay sent a note. "I am in Toronto raging around the stage in my second show of the day in a restricting garment getting a bit pungent," she wrote before going on to praise this province's film and television community.

The Leo Awards are the awards program for the British Columbia film and television industry, celebrating excellence in artistic achievement.

Muse Entertainment is proud to announce that the mini-series Bomb Girls has been nominated for two Leo Awards including Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series for Meg Tilly and Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series for Ali Liebert.

Set in the 1940s, Bomb Girls tells the remarkable stories of the women who risked their lives in a munitions factory building bombs for the Allied forces fighting on the European front. The gripping 6-episode dramatic series profiles the life-altering experiences of five brave women who risk their lives working in a Canadian munitions factory during the Second World War.

Bomb Girls, has already beengreenlit for 12 new episodes, bringing the total to 18 episodes. Its premiere on Global Television drew 1.6 million viewers (Ind. 2+ National, confirmeddata) making it the #1 new Canadian original drama premiere for the Fall 2011/2012lineup with 2+ and A18-49 viewers. Bomb Girls has seen continued success with morethan 1.2 million viewers tuning in on average during the five-week period since itslaunch, becoming the #1 new Canadian program average this season.

Muse Entertainment is proud to announce that the mini-series Bomb Girls has been nominated for two Monte Carlo Television Awards including Best Mini-Series and Outstanding Actress for Meg Tilly.

The gripping 6-episode dramatic series profiles the life-altering experiences of five brave women who risk their lives working in a Canadian munitions factory during the Second World War.

Bomb Girls, has already beengreenlit for 12 new episodes, bringing the total to 18 episodes. Its premiere on Global Television drew 1.6 million viewers (Ind. 2+ National, confirmeddata) making it the #1 new Canadian original drama premiere for the Fall 2011/2012lineup with 2+ and A18-49 viewers. Bomb Girls has seen continued success with morethan 1.2 million viewers tuning in on average during the five-week period since itslaunch, becoming the #1 new Canadian program average this season.

Actress Emily Osment brought home the award for Best Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries for the film Cyberbully at the 16th Annual PRISM Awards ceremony held April 19th at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

The PRISM Awards, which is produced by the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) in collaboration with FX , honors the accurate depiction of drug, alcohol and tobacco use and addiction, as well as mental health issues in movies, television, music, DVD, and comic book entertainment.

"This year’s PRISM Awards honorees made the most of their rights to free creative expression, while at the same time showing the reality of these health issues,” said President and CEO of EIC Brian Dyak. “Such authenticity leads to engaging and entertaining productions and performances.”

The 55th New York Festivals® International Television & Film Awards™, announced this year’s winning entries at the 2012 awards ceremony Tuesday, April 17th at the annual NAB Show in Las Vegas. The Grand Jury honored the World’s Best TV Programs & Films™ and awarded three prestigious Grand Trophies to the following companies: ESPN, USA; Temolo Productions for BIO, The Biography Channel, USA; and ReelzChannel, USA.

The ReelzChannel, USA was recognized with the Grand Trophy for The Kennedys in the Television –Entertainment Special category. The mini-series, a Muse Entertainment Production in association Asylum Entertainment, relives the public and private triumphs and tragedies of the Kennedy clan.

“Having had the privilege of being home to The Kennedys, one of the most extraordinary mini-series ever televised, everyone at REELZ tips their hat once again to the cast, crew and creators who brought to life the story of one of America’s most iconic families,” said Stan E. Hubbard REELZCHANNEL CEO. “The Grand Trophy from New York Festivals is a particularly prestigious honor for our partners Muse, Asylum Entertainment and Joel Surnow, who together set the bar for our continued pursuit of excellence in all that we do.”

The 2012 New York Festivals Television & Film Awards received entries from forty countries around the globe. All winning entries were selected by our Grand Jury comprised of award winning Television and Film professionals.

NYF’s Television & Film Award Presentation and all acceptance speeches will soon be available for viewing on the International Television & Film Awards website. For a complete list of this year’s award winners go to: http://www.newyorkfestivals.com

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS JEFF FOXWORTHY, BILL ENGVALL AND LARRY THE CABLE GUY TO VOICE NEW SERIES

CMT has signed an order for 13 episodes of its first-ever animated project BOUNTY HUNTERS to be produced by Muse Entertainment and Parallel Entertainment, it was announced today by Jayson Dinsmore, EVP, Programming and Development at the network’s annual upfront presentation in New York. Executive producers Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy will voice the animated series, along with series regular Lisa Lampanelli. BOUNTY HUNTERS will be produced by Muse Entertainment and Parallel Entertainment, and is set to debut on CMT in 2013.

The animated comedy stars the voices of Foxworthy, Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy as they track down fugitives for their own two-bit bounty hunting business in each half-hour episode. The team will do their best to chase down fugitives, while pleasing the tough-as-nails bondwoman who throws them cases, voiced by Lampanelli. Without fail, the Chief of Police who wants to shut down their operation and a long list of personal faults always seem to interfere.

BOUNTY HUNTERS, co-created by Glenn Clements, Ben Levin and Matt Burnett, is executive produced by Foxworthy, Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy, as well as Joel Rice, Michael Prupas and Jesse Prupas for Muse Entertainment. JP Williams and Jennifer Novak executive produce for Parallel Entertainment; along with Jayson Dinsmore, Eliot Goldberg and Melanie Moreau for CMT.

Director of Photography on The Kennedys, David Moxness, brought home the CSC Award for "Best TV Drama Cinematography" March 31st.

The purpose of the CSC is to promote the art and craft of cinematography and to provide tangible recognition of the common bonds that link film and video professionals, from the aspiring student and camera assistant to the news veteran and senior director of photography.

Bomb Girls & Being Human

February-10-12BOMB GIRLS & BEING HUMAN RENEWED!

MUSE SET TO PRODUCE NEW SEASONS OF BOMB GIRLS & BEING HUMAN

One week, two renewals! Muse Entertainment’s wartime dramaBomb Girlsand the supernatural hit Being Human, have both been re-ordered this week by networks for brand new seasons.

“Our success is not stopping with The Kennedys,” says Muse President Michael Prupas. “These high caliber series have superb acting talent, inspired storylines and first-class production design. The shows’ audiences are committed and captivated. The networks appreciate that.”

The original 6-episode Bomb Girls, has beengreenlit for 12 new episodes, bringing the total to 18 episodes. Its premiere on Global Television drew 1.6 millionviewers (Ind. 2+ National, confirmeddata) making it the #1 new Canadian original drama premiere for the Fall 2011/2012lineup with 2+ and A18-49 viewers. Bomb Girls has seen continued success with morethan 1.2 millionviewers tuning in on average during the five-week period since itslaunch, becoming the #1 new Canadian program average this season.

Also this week, Syfy in the U.S., has ordered a third season (13 episodes) of Being Human, just four episodes into the 13-episode second season, which premiered on Monday, January 16. To date, viewership for the second season has increased by an impressive +27% in Adults 18-49, +35% in Adults 25-54 and +15% in total viewers. With newly-released Live +7 data factored in, the season two premiere of Being Human (January 16, 2012 at 9PM ET/PT) delivered a 1.7 HH rating representing 1.4 million Adults 25-54 (a series high for the demo and +18% over the first season premiere), 1.4 million Adults 18-49 (second highest ranking in the demo and +12% over the season one premiere) and 2.4 million total viewers (the second most-watched episode of any season and +3% over the season one premiere). With women comprising 52% of the total audience for premiere episodes this season, Being Human remains Syfy’s most female-skewing scripted series ever.

The Prism Awards is a nationally-televised awards show recognizing the accurate depiction of substance abuse and mental illness: prevention, treatment and recovery in film, television, interactive, music, DVD, and comic book entertainment.

SECOND SEASON-TO-DATE DELIVERS DOUBLE DIGIT AUDIENCE GROWTH OVER SEASON ONE IN KEY DEMOS AND TOTAL VIEWERS

Syfy is ordering a third season (13 episodes) of the hit drama series Being Human, it was announced today by Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy and Co-Head of Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. The announcement comes just four episodes into the 13-episode second season, which premiered on Monday, January 16.

To date, viewership for the second season has increased by an impressive +27% in Adults 18-49, +35% in Adults 25-54 and +15% in total viewers.

With newly-released Live +7 data factored in, the season two premiere of Being Human (January 16, 2012 at 9PM ET/PT) delivered a 1.7 HH rating representing 1.4 million Adults 25-54 (a series high for the demo and +18% over the first season premiere), 1.4 million Adults 18-49 (second highest ranking in the demo and +12% over the season one premiere) and 2.4 million total viewers (the second most-watched episode of any season and +3% over the season one premiere).

With women comprising 52% of the total audience for premiere episodes this season, Being Human remains Syfy’s most female-skewing scripted series ever.

“With the success of season two, Being Human has become a premier destination for Syfy viewers,” said Stern. “Jeremy Carver and Anna Fricke have taken this series to new heights this year and we’re excited to see where the third season will go.”

Being Human stars Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath and Sam Huntington as vampire Aidan, ghost Sally and werewolf Josh who share the creature comforts of home in a Boston brownstone. Together the three roommates struggle to keep their supernatural secrets and resist individual temptations as they strive to live lives that are as near to normal as possible.

Executive Producers are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Jeremy Carver (Supernatural) and Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood) who are both writers/showrunners, Adam Kane (The Mentalist, Heroes), and Rob Pursey and Toby Whithouse. Irene Litinsky (Human Trafficking, The Phantom) is series Producer.

Being Human is a Muse Entertainment production in association with Zodiak USA. It is based on the acclaimed series, Being Human, created by Toby Whithouse and produced by Touchpaper Television, part of Zodiak Media.

Today, Shaw Media announced the renewal of the country's breakout original hit, Bomb Girls. With the initial six-part miniseries concluding tomorrow on Global at 8pm ET/PT, the Canadian wartime drama has been green lit for 12 new episodes. Development on the additional episodes will begin shortly and start of production will be announced at a later date.

Theseriespremiere drew 1.6 million viewers on Global (Ind. 2+ National, confirmed data) making it the #1 new Canadian original drama premiere for the Fall 2011/2012 lineup with 2+ and A18-49 viewers. Bomb Girls has seen continued success with more than 1.2 million viewers tuning in on average during the five-week period since its launch, becoming the #1 new Canadian program average this season.

"With six powerful episodes, Bomb Girls has struck a chord with Canadians and we're thrilled with the grassroots initiatives and overwhelming support this original series has generated," said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice-President, Content, Shaw Media. "As we work with our production partners at Muse and Back Alley, viewers will have the opportunity to continue the journey with these brave women facing a new reality during this fascinating time in Canadian history."

In tomorrow night's explosive finale, "Element of Surprise," the season culminates with dramatic twists for all of the characters set against the attack on Pearl Harbor. Gladys's (Jodi Balfour) secret job is exposed, while Lorna (Meg Tilly) grapples with a possible pregnancy and Kate (Charlotte Hegele) struggles to stand up to the return of her manipulative father.

Commissioned by Shaw Media's original content team, Bomb Girls is produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Films. Muse Entertainment's Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth) serves as executive producer, along with Back Alley Films' Janis Lundman (Durham County) and Adrienne Mitchell (Durham County). Mitchell is also the series' co-showrunner alongside Michael MacLennan(Flashpoint, Queer as Folk), who is also an executive producer and serves as head writer.

CANADIAN DIRECTOR JON CASSAR WON THE AWARD FOR BEST MINI-SERIES FOR THE KENNEDYS

The winners of the Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement Awards for 2011, were announced January 28th during the 64th Annual DGA Awards Dinner at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles.

The prize for best TV miniseries went to Jon Cassar, the Canadian who directed the Montreal-backed series The Kennedys.

Cassar, whose other Hollywood credits include 24 and Terra Nova, was born in Malta and went to college in Ottawa.

Just a year ago, it looked like The Kennedys — which tells the story of the Kennedy family, including political disasters and their personal troubles — might not find a home on U.S. television when the History Channel abruptly cancelled it.

"You just try to tell the best story you can and if people recognize it and think it's your time to come to this event, then it is an honour," Cassar said ahead of the DGA ceremony.

This was Mr. Cassar’s third DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series in 2006 for 24 - “7:00 AM-8:00 AM" and was nominated in this category in 2003 for the episode of 24 also titled “7:00 AM-8:00 AM."

CONTROVERSIAL MINI-SERIES RECOGNIZED AS BEST HISTORICAL DRAMA PRODUCTION

The Kennedys mini-series has won Best Historical Drama Production at the 2012 History Makers International Awards. History Makers Awards recognize the very best in history, current affairs and non-fiction programming from around the world, across digital and TV platforms.

The History Makers Award is the most recent award The Kennedys has won. The mini-series began its awards streak last September with 10 Primetime Emmy Award®-nominations and four wins, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a mini-series for Barry Pepper’s portrayal of RFK. Additionally, The Kennedys earned 10 Gemini Awards nominations and four wins, and more recently the mini-series earned industry recognition with nominations from the Screen Actors Guild Awards® for Greg Kinnear’s portrayal of JFK and the Directors Guild of America for Director Jon Cassar. Both the DGA Awards and the SAG Awards will be decided this weekend, Saturday, January 28 and Sunday, January 29. The Kennedys has also been recognized with nominations for the Producers Guild Awards, the American Society of Cinematographers, the Costume Designers Guild Awards and the Cinema Audio Society Awards.

The revealing drama starring Greg Kinnear, Barry Pepper, Katie Holmes and Tom Wilkinson premiered last April on History Television in Canada and Reelz Channel in the US, since then The Kennedys has aired in over 140 countries around the world including the UK, Sweden, France, Italy, Spain, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Isreal.

The Kennedys is a Muse Entertainment Enterprises production in association with Asylum Entertainment. From the Emmy Award-winning team behind the groundbreaking series 24, the creators are Stephen Kronish and Joel Surnow. The series is directed by Jon Cassar and the executive producers are Joel Surnow, Michael Prupas, Jonathan Koch, Steve Michaels, Stephen Kronish, Jon Cassar and Jamie Paul Rock.

BEING HUMAN RISES 14% IN ADULTS 25-54 & 8% AMONG ADULTS 18-49 COMPARED TO SEASON ONE PREMIERE

Syfy continued its red-hot January with the premieres of Being Human and Lost Girl, marking the return of the channel’s "Powerful Mondays" (Monday night 9-11PM) programming block.

From 9-10PM (ET/PT), the second season return of Being Human was up 14% in Adults 25-54 (1.1 million), nine percent among Adults 18-34 (458,000) and eight percent in Adults 18-49 (1.1 million) versus the January 17, 2011 series premiere. Being Human also averaged 1.8 million total viewers with a 1.3 household rating.

This constituted Being Human’s second best performance ever among Adults 18-34, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.

Executive producers of Being Human are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys), Jeremy Carver (Supernatural) and Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood) who are both writers/showrunners, Adam Kane (The Mentalist, Heroes), and Rob Pursey and Toby Whithouse. Irene Litinsky is series producer. Being Human is a Muse Entertainment production in association with Zodiak USA and is based on Being Human, created by Toby Whithouse and produced by Touchpaper Television, part of Zodiak Media Group. Zodiak Rights hold worldwide rights to the new series.

Bomb Girls made a huge impression January 4th garnering over 1.4 million viewers (2+, national) for its premiere broadcast. The first episode of the six-part miniseries won its timeslot nationally, 2+ and in the key Adults 18-49 (455,400) demographic, marking a triumphant start to the New Year.

Fans can also visit the show's comprehensive website GlobalTV.com/bombgirls - the specially designed interface allows visitors to easily navigate through the site's content including a behind-the-scenes tour of the set and show props, plus, exclusive interviews with the cast, producers as well as a real life bomb girl. Additionally, fans can also share their comments or word of thanks on the "Memory Wall" page to those who served and are serving our country today. Bomb Girls premiere episode is already available for viewing online with subsequent episodes also to be made available the day after broadcast.

This gripping dramatic series profiles the life-altering experiences of five brave women who risk their lives working in a Canadian munitions factory during the Second World War.

Viewers can tune in for an all-new episode of Bomb Girls next Wednesday, January 11 - 8pm ET/PT. In "Misfires," the women at Victory Munitions must band together when the blame for an accidental explosion is laid at their feet.

MOBOVIVO AND MUSE ENTERTAINMENT, ARE THE FIRST TO LAUNCH AN IPAD APP TO DISTRIBUTE THE AWARD-WINNING KENNEDYS MINI SERIES

It's a key indicator of an emerging trend among content producers and distributors, as they move top-rated TV shows and movies onto multiple media screens, along with socially-integrated, content-savvy smart TV and portable media applications.

Alberta-based Mobovivo is partnering with Muse Entertainment to release the award-winning The Kennedys mini-series as an app for iPad and other devices. The Kennedys app includes Previiw, which clips and shares the viewer's favourite scenes on Facebook, Twitter and blog sites, letting fans hold a community conversation on their favourite TV shows and movies.

"Muse Entertainment understands that engaging fans of their TV programming is key to having people spend more time with their content," Mobovivo founder and CEO, Trevor Doerksen described. "The direct relationship and feedback that the producers of The Kennedys receive from this app goes beyond any other marketing or distribution strategy."

The Kennedys app is developed with Mobovivo StayTuned video app platform. StayTuned apps allow producers to stay tuned to consumers and consumers to tune in to their content. The app will include Previiw, Miscreens and analytics features from StayTuned. Previiw, Miscreens allows users to add videos to their digital locker and watch via 3G, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, or securely download to view without an Internet connection.

The Kennedys, nominated for 10 Emmy Awards (and the winner of 4) and nominated for 10 Gemini Awards, tells the intimate story of the illustrious Kennedy family and brings to life this prolific piece of American history. Featuring an outstanding cast, this revealing eight-hour drama spotlights one of America's most legendary families as they have never been seen before.

"Our saga of the Kennedy family has riveted audiences around the world," said Michael Prupas, Muse Entertainment CEO. "We are delighted that Mobovivo is making it available to the fast developing app audience."

Mobovivo's cloud based media system is used by producers, broadcasters and media companies to distribute and market branded video apps for a range of devices, including: iOS, Android, PlayBook, Roku and Samsung Smart TVs.

New vampires, new werewolves and new supernatural beings are cropping up on the new season of Syfy's Being Human -- and one of them is no other than Dollhouse favorite Dichen Lachman.

The Hollywood Reporter has the exclusive first look of Lachman (see above) as vampire royal Suren, who is revealed to have a complicated past with fellow bloodsucker Aidan (Sam Witwer). Her unexpected return causes Aidan and Boston's vampire society to go into disarray.

Executive producer Jeremy Carver emphasized the importance of maintaining the series' focus on the three leads Aidan, Sally and Josh (Witwer, Meaghan Rath and Sam Huntington, respectively), but acknowledged that as it progresses, the Being Human world must expand.

Carver spoke in more detail about Lachman's role ("the seeds of the character were put in place last season amongst the writers," he says) and what her presence means for Aidan especially.

"She's been away for a very long time and her reappearance on the scene, for Aidan -- a guy who is always trying desperately to divorce himself from vampires and vampire-ism -- she's the worst temptation to come down the pike," he says. "Part of it is the romantic past that they share."

But when viewers first see Lachman, it may be a shock to the system, though the image above takes place following her reveal. "You've got this incredibly beautiful actress who commands the screen and when you're introduced to her, she's all but unrecognizable and that plays very much into the old past she has and it speaks directly to her troubled nature," Carver explains.

Flashbacks to the 1930s will "unpack this explosive history between Aidan and Suren," Carver teases, adding that the pair's past entanglements will be "explored in great detail." "Past events are very much exploding into the present now," he reveals.

Season 2 will see the three main characters inching closer to darkness.

"Each, in their own way, are heading down a dark path of temptation, which ultimately for them is a valiant but almost desperate struggle to become more human," Carver says. "But in their attempt, they're becoming more and more monstrous."

Bomb Girls blasts away all the negative cliches that exist about Canadian television. Ambitious, intelligent and rewarding, the miniseries is exactly what our original TV should strive for: high-end production values, great storytelling, sharp casting, and the exploration of something that is definitively our own.

The six-part series, premiering Wednesday, offers a fictionalized account of an important, often overlooked, part of Canadian history: when Canadian women took over the work in our munitions factories during the Second World War. Not only did they replace the men who went off to serve, but they provided them - and Canada's allies -with the vital weaponry needed to sustain the war effort. While Canadian men were risking life and limb overseas, Canadian women faced their own hazards -- and risked their own limbs -- working in bomb factories.

Bomb Girls offers all the requisite fireworks. The music, fashion and cultural trappings of 1940s are all on fine display here. While far from the world of Mad Men's Don Draper and New York City, Bomb Girls accomplishes similar feats as that heralded series: It brings to life an era; offers complex, intriguing characters; and provides an often shocking window into the gender dynamics of the not-so-distant past.

Meg Tilly anchors the ensemble cast as fierce factory shift matron, Lorna Corbett. Walking a fine line between serving as the factory girls' guardian and being a stern authority figure, Tilly's nuanced character is the co-heart of the show. Norma has two sons on the battlefields of Europe and an empty, loveless marriage at home, so her work in the munitions factory has become almost a fanatical crusade. Empathetic, conflicted and occasionally overbearing, Tilly's performance as Corbett is a scene-stealer.

The other co-heart of the show is South Africa's Jodi Balfour, who plays rich socialite Gladys Witham, a young woman whose world view is altered forever by her decision to seek work in a bomb factory. Gladys' lust for life and occasionally reckless decisions offer a linchpin on which much of the series' drama revolves. The striking Balfour has made Vancouver her home, with stints on other Canadian-shot series, such as Supernatural and Sanctuary. Bomb Girls could bring a new sheen to her rising star. At the very least, Balfour and Tilly will likely both contend for Geminis.

In tonight's opening episode, Gladys takes an office job at Victory Munitions, the factory at the heart of the series' action. Her world is blown wide open by the unlikely sisterhood she finds there, but she soon finds herself faced with a big decision: whether to defy her family and societal expectations and join the working girls on the dangerous floor of the factory.

Exploring everything from sexism and racism to class warfare, Bomb Girls offers us a glimpse into an important part of our past -- and an entertaining drama in the process. Drop in tonight and watch the series launch.

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today the motion picture and long-form television nominationsfor the 23rd Annual Producers Guild Awards. The categories include: The Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures; The Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures; and The David L. Wolper Producer of the Year Award in Long-Form Television. The documentary film category and other television category nominations were already announced by the Guild in December 2011.

The 2012 Producers Guild nominanees in the category of Long-Form Television are:

Premiering Wednesday, January 4 – 8pm ET/PT, on Global TV, Bomb Girls profiles the life-altering experiences of five brave Canadian women who risk their lives working in a munitions factory during the Second World War.

The series entertains viewers with a wartime persona that is rarely acknowledged yet played an integral role in the country’s rich history; it reveals the necessity of the ‘bomb girl’ along with her significance. Leading the ensemble cast is legendary Oscar® nominee Meg Tilly (Agnes of God, The Big Chill), who makes her return to network television after 18 years, taking on the role of Lorna Corbett, the Victory Munitions factory supervisor.

This gripping dramatic series set on the Canadian home front tells the remarkable stories of the women who risked everything building bombs for the Allied forces fighting on the European front. Bomb Girls delves into the lives of these exceptional women from all walks of life – peers, friends and rivals – who find themselves changed profoundly as they are liberated from their home and social restrictions to join the work force for the first time and face previously unimaginable risks in the process.

Shot on location in Toronto, Bomb Girls is executive produced by Muse Entertainment’s Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), along with Back Alley Films’ Janis Lundman (Durham County) and Adrienne Mitchell (Durham County). Mitchell also serves as co-showrunner along with Michael MacLennan (Flashpoint, Queer as Folk) who is executive producer and serves as the series’ head writer.

New mini-series, Bomb Girls, tells stories of women who worked in factories during WWII. Screening last night gave Ottawans a sneak peak

A mini-series screened in Ottawa last night will tell the stories of the bomb girls, who worked in munitions factories during the Second World War.

“It’s a fascinating time in our history, when we came into our own as a country and women came into their own as understanding the power that they wielded in society,” said producer and head writer Michael MacLennan.

“We have measures of freedom and equality that they didn’t have back then, so you can tell stories where the conflicts are writ large.”

War propaganda told the Canadian women “to go from baking apple pies to making bombs” said executive producer Adrienne Mitchell.

“They were told to take on a man’s work and still look like a women, all of those paradoxes.”

The producers interviewed real Canadian bomb girls, now in their 70s, who said that despite the horrors of the war, it was an “exuberant, joyful time” and “the best time of their lives” because of the freedom and camaraderie that working gave them, said MacLennan.

“They were told they were just filler to when the men came home,” said Mitchell.

“But when the war ended, a lot of them didn’t go home and it was the beginning of a change for women.”

Helen Rapp was just 15 when she moved from the small, northern Ontario town of Schumacher to work at the General Electric production factory in Hamilton. It was 1940, and Rapp had just finished high school and decided to enrol in a military drafting course.

She spent the next year and a half working in the factory, helping to produce the barrel portion of the Bofors antiaircraft gun.

“It was exciting and we felt like we were really doing something for the war effort,” she says.

It is this excitement and the atmosphere in a factory filled with young women that a new six-part television series is hoping to capture.

Bomb Girls is a fictional look at the lives of female factory workers during the Second World War. When the first episode was screened at the Canadian War Museum on Tuesday evening, Rapp was an honoured guest.

The action takes place in East Toronto’s Victory Munitions Factory, a fictional amalgamation of two wartime production plants.

Rapp, 86, now lives in Ottawa and has fond recollections of her factory life.

“The place was really a huge, huge barn,” she says. “They had this crane up on the ceiling that we had to bring over by whistling. My foreman taught me to whistle and he would get me to call the crane. I still think that’s hilarious.”

Rapp says there was never a shortage of noise and laughter. The factory was also a diverse work environment that brought where women from all over the country.

Her best friends were a group of five women who had moved to Hamilton from Prince Albert, Sask.

Rapp described the relationships she formed while working in the factory as “really something” and hoped the miniseries will emphasize this sense of camaraderie.

It wasn’t just female friendships that were made, either. Since there was a Commonwealth Air Training Centre in the city, there was never a shortage of men to date, Rapp says with a mischievous smile.

Regardless of the fun that was had, there was always an underlying, sombre tone.

“War touched everyone and there was no avoiding it. It was a sad, sad time.”

Rapp remembers when five young men from her small hometown died in one incident.

“When you had a soldier that died, you’d put a black wreath on your door so people would know you were in mourning. After this accident, everyone in the town had a wreath outside their house,” she says.

The War Museum has sections of its permanent display dedicated to honouring the role women played in war, says Yasmine Mingay, the museum’s manager of public affairs with the museum. Mingay’s own grandmother was a bomb girl and says she thinks the story will resonate with a lot of Canadians.

She also thinks the project is a good match with the ideals of the museum.

“We take a look at the human dimension of war in all its elements,” she says. “We hope this series will help people learn more about their military and cultural history and we think it’s a wonderful endeavour to bring to the forefront of Canadian minds.”

Two Canadian production companies, Back Alley Films and Muse Entertainment Enterprises, co-produced the series with Shaw Media. Muse Entertainment was the studio responsible for creating the The Kennedys. The episodes are directed by Ken Girotti and Anne Wheeler and the series stars Oscar-nominated actress Meg Tilly as the munitions factory supervisor. The first episode of Bomb Girls is set to air Jan. 4 on Global Television.

While the producers did consult the War Museum about the factory workers’ uniforms, Rapp says she is certain of one inaccuracy. She points at her invitation to Tuesday’s event, scoffing at the young girls dressed in white coveralls.

“I would have gotten awfully dirty if I had worn a uniform that colour,” she laughs, adding that their coveralls were a practical shade of blue-grey.

The second season of the hit drama BEING HUMAN picks up where the explosive season finale left off. Aidan tries to steer a leaderless Boston while resisting his deadlier vampire instincts, as he finds himself tempted and tormented by a figure from his past. Sally must face the consequences of missing her door, while figuring out how to navigate life on earth as a ghost. Werewolf Josh searches for a cure for his condition while struggling to maintain his relationship with Nora and, like the rest of his roommates, trying to build a future for himself beyond simply being a monster.

Being Human is a Muse Entertainment production in association with ZODIAK USA. It is based on the acclaimed UK series, Being Human, created by Toby Whithouse and produced by Touchpaper. Executive producers are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Jeremy Carver (Supernatural) and Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood) who are both writers/showrunners, Adam Kane (The Mentalist, Heroes), and Rob Pursey and Toby Whithouse. Irene Litinsky is series Producer.

Production begins this week in Montreal on IFC’s newest original scripted series, Bullet in the Face, a six-part, half-hour comedic action thriller. Creator and executive producer Alan Spencer (Sledge Hammer!) developed the series with producers and executive producers Jesse Prupas and Evi Regev of Muse Entertainment and Just For Laughs Television. The cast includes Max Williams as Gunter Vogler, Neil Napier as Lieutenant Karl Hagerman, Jessica Steen as Commissioner Eva Braden, and Kate Kelton as Martine Mahler, alongside guest stars Eddie Izzard (Valkyrie, Ocean’s Thirteen) and Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, The Expendables) as notorious crime lords. The series is directed and co-executive produced by Erik Canuel (Barrymore, Bon Cop, Bad Cop) and will debut on IFC in summer 2012.

“Bullet in the Face melds the best of the action/thriller genre with IFC’s comedic sensibility,” said Debbie DeMontreux, senior vice president of original programming, IFC. “This is television like viewers have never seen before and Alan Spencer is the perfect ‘slightly off’ talent to help us bring this new format to audiences.”

“Just for Laughs and Muse Entertainment have long been searching for a unique and edgy comedy to produce together and we were thrilled to find a fantastic and supportive broadcast partner in IFC. We are proud to say that Bullet in the Face is unlike anything else out there, combining hilarity, thrills and non-stop action,” say Executive Producers Michael Prupas (Muse Entertainment) and Bruce Hills (Just for Laughs).

“I am very happy to be doing this show for a network that is 'slightly off' as I have been off my whole life,” commented Alan Spencer.

Following a botched jewel heist, sociopath criminal Gunter Vogler awakens in a hospital, surrounded by cops, his head wrapped in bandages. When the bandages come off Gunter’s new face is revealed and police force him to work undercover to take down the city’s crime lords.

Bullet in the Face is produced by Muse Entertainment Enterprises and Just For Laughs Television. Executive producers for IFC are Debbie DeMontreux, Dan Pasternack, Jennifer Caserta and Evan Shapiro.

B.C. Actor Was Camping With His Family When He Picked Up A Best Actor Award

Barry Pepper won an Emmy Award Sunday night, but wasn’t there to pick it up. He had a previous commitment — a family vacation.

“We’re in the mountains,” he said by cellphone Monday. “It’s an annual trip that I plan, so I didn’t want to break that commitment.”

As it turned out, he got the best of both worlds: a great day in the foothills of the B.C. Rockies, plus the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Mini-Series or Movie.

He didn’t watch the Emmys on TV, but got the news soon enough.

“We were watching a herd of elk that had just crossed us on the road,” he relates.

“We were out hiking and when I got back to the vehicle I saw a message on the phone. It was about eight or nine at night; it was a nice way to cap the day, for sure. Seeing some Rocky Mountain elk, having a glorious day in the mountains, and then to get that message, that was pretty nice.”

The 41-year-old Campbell River native received the Emmy for his portrayal of Bobby Kennedy in The Kennedys, a miniseries that stirred up a lot of controversy in the U.S. The series drew flack from the Kennedy family, was dropped by the History Channel in the States, then was alternately praised and savaged in the American press.

“It was understandable that the critics were as polarized as they were in the United States, because politically the U.S. is totally polarized,” said Pepper.

“So the critics were either Democratic or Republican in their views, and they either loved it or they hated it. ... Some of the reviews said things like ‘ham-fisted hatchet job,’ and other reviews said ‘the best thing ever put on television.’

“At that point I just stopped reading,” he laughs. “There’s just no winning that one.”

Pepper sees his win as a vindication for the production.

“It’s such a cool validation for so many people that worked on that production,” he says.

“It was a gruelling, challenging project: to have it recognized this way, with the Canadian Geminis and now with the Emmys, it makes me feel very, very good for all the people who were involved, that worked so hard.”

Pepper may not be as famous as Tom Cruise, but he has quietly assembled quite a resume. He burst onto the Hollywood scene in 1998 as the God-fearing sniper in Stephen Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, received a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of baseball great Roger Maris in 61, then was cast by Clint Eastwood in another Second World War film, Flags of Our Fathers.

He landed a role in the Coen Brothers remake of True Grit by making them a demo reel of his character Ned Pepper; made a great bad guy in Casino Jack; and appears in an upcoming film by the legendary director Terrence Malick.

He is quite proud of The Kennedys. He spent months getting Bobby’s accent down, and brought in Oscar-winning makeup artist Christien Tinsley to help him transform into a reasonable facsimile of the iconic politician.

“We sat down and went through all the photos we could find of Bobby, analyzed his face and figured out how we could adjust my features prosthetically,” he said.

“And then hired a tremendous dialect coach by the name of John Nelles. You bring in the right people and they make you look great.”

Pepper hasn’t had any feedback from the Kennedy clan about his performance, and probably won’t. But he came out of the experience with tremendous respect for Bobby Kennedy.

“I admire the fact that he spoke from his heart,” he said.

“He was one of the very few politicians I’ve ever heard speak with such genuine emotion and honesty about subjects of love and compassion, freedom and equality. It was such a difficult time in America ... [and] he spoke about compassion, not only for Americans but people all over the world. He really stood by those values, and lived and died fighting for them.

“It was such a refreshing thing to study, and to hear those speeches, and to understand who the inner man was. He was a really remarkable human being, and I think he would have made an extraordinary president, had he lived.”

Not a standard Hollywood answer, but Pepper is not a standard Hollywood actor. He may have a house in L.A., but he’s a British Columbian to the core.

His family has been in B.C. for generations: his great-grandfather built the first log cabin and log schoolhouse on Denman Island in the 1870s. His family spent five years sailing around the South Pacific when he was a child, then returned to Denman, where he grew up.

“It was sort of a mixture of hippies and farmers and artists,” he said.

“It was a really interesting place, very eclectic. One of those neighbourly kind of places where nobody locks their doors. There’s no police, no dogs with collars, everybody’s kids are welcome in everybody’s house. There’s barefoot dances and farmers markets, very Canadian west coast.”

After high school he moved to Vancouver and studied acting. He eventually moved down to L.A., but also keeps a place in B.C.

“I’m a bit of a hippie gentleman farmer,” he said.

“I have an orchard and a big organic garden, and I live on the ocean, so I fish and I hunt and just raise my family the way I was raised. It’s a real striking contrast to Los Angeles.”

Raising his family the way he was raised means bypassing an awards show for a family vacation.

“We woke up today, and some of the higher mountains around us are all kissed with snow, capped with snow,” he said.

“It’s beautiful — the elk are bugling, the coyotes are howling at night. It’s just beautiful. We camped on an alpine lake and there’s ducks and geese flying in here ... it’s just really just spectacular. We’re so blessed to live in B.C., aren’t we?”

Muse Entertainment is proud to announce that its productions The Kennedys and The Pillars of the Earth have won a total of 5 Emmy Awards.

The 8-hour historical drama, The Kennedys, produced by Muse in association with Asylum Entertainment, brought home 4 Emmy Awards including: Outstanding Lead Actor for Barry Pepper, Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries or a Movie (Non-Prosthetic), Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Movie and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie.

The critically-acclaimed 8 part series The Pillars of the Earth, co-produced with Germany’s Tandem Communications garnered 1 Emmy win for Outstanding Sound Editing for A Miniseries, Movie or a Special.

"Winning 4 Emmys for The Kennedys and 1 for The Pillars of the Earth has been a very special moment for Muse, particularly since all 5 winners were Canadian. Barry Pepper's win is especially sweet since he put so much of himself into the role,” says Executive Producer & Muse Entertainment President Michael Prupas.

The Primetime Emmy® Awards celebrate excellence in national primetime programming, awarding top honors at the annual creative arts and primetime awards ceremonies.

Muse Entertainment’s hit sci-fi series Being Human continues to make its way around the world, most recently being picked up in Australia on Network 10-owned Eleven. The 13-episode series has already been sold by Zodiak Rights to Antena 3 in Spain, TVNZ in New Zealand, MNet in South Africa as well as to networks in France, Poland, Romania, the Balkans, Russia, Benelux, Germany, Israel and Italy.

Season 2 of Being Human is in production in Montreal, starring Sam Witwer (Smallville, CSI), Meaghan Rath (Prom Wars, 18 to Life) and Sam Huntington (Fanboys, Superman Returns) as three paranormal roommates struggling with their double lives, while trying to appear normal. The show became an instant hit for US network Syfy when it premiered in January 2011, averaging 1.8 million viewers, and making it Syfy’s most successful, winter-season, scripted series launch in 6 years. In Canada, the debut was the most successful new series launch in winter/spring for SPACE since 2005.

Muse would like to congratulate actress Emily Van Camp on winning the ACTRA award for Outstanding Female Performance for her portrayal of Esther in Muse's epic 4-hour event series BEN HUR.

The stellar international cast also includes Joseph Morgan (Alexander, Master and Commander) and Stephen Campbell Moore (Amazing Grace, The History Boys) as Judah Ben Hur and Octavius Messala, life-long friends on the opposite sides of a war for Judaea’s national identity that tests their characters to the maximum.

BEN HUR is written by Alan Sharp and directed by Steve Shill. One of the executive producers is David Wyler, son of William Wyler—the director of the original 1959 classic. The other executive producers are Michael Prupas, Manuel Corby, Frank Konigsberg, Dirk Beinhold and Steve Shill. BEN HUR is a Muse Entertainment (Canada)/Drimtim Entertainment (Spain) production in association with Zak Productions (Morocco), Akkord Film (Germany) and FishCorbFilms.

Muse Entertainment has always kept a low profile, but the busy Montreal TV production company has been thrust into the spotlight this year.

Muse's mini "The Kennedys," which it produced in association with Asylum Entertainment, was picked up by ReelzChannel in the U.S. after being dropped by the History channel.

The Montreal company has been happily trumpeting its 34 Gemini noms and 17 Emmy nominations, led by "The Kennedys" and "Pillars of the Earth," which Muse co-produced with Germany's Tandem Communications.

Muse CEO Michael Prupas sees the Emmy noms for "The Kennedys" as vindication for the show -- and his company.

"It proves there's still freedom of speech in the U.S.," says Prupas. "It hurt me personally. The research we'd done was accurate and the kind of things we were disclosing were not new to anybody."

Muse, which was founded by entertainment lawyer Prupas in 1998, occupies a unique place in the Canuck TV landscape. It whipped off $87 million worth of production last year, the second-largest volume after E1, and it succeeds with a mix of co-productions (often with European partners), U.S.-focused series and miniseries and projects more targeted to the indigenous Canadian marketplace.

"Pillars of the Earth" is an example of one Muse model. The eight-hour, $40 million series is a 80%-20% Germany-Canada co-production but the Muse coin was essential to get the project off the ground. The show was pre-sold in Germany, Canada, Italy and Spain, but only sold in the key markets of the U.S. and the U.K. after completion. It aired on Starz in the U.S.

Next up, Muse is busy with a mix of international hits and locally targeted programs.

Muse Entertainment's miniseries The Kennedys came under fire in the U.S. for its take on the family. Now, the show is winning awardsBy Brendan Kelly, The Gazette

MONTREAL - It's been a roller-coaster of a year for Muse Entertainment and its president Michael Prupas, and the good news for Prupas and his booming Montreal TV production company is that he is in the middle of the fun part of that roller-coaster ride right now.

Things were anything but fun last year and early in 2011 when the Muse-produced miniseries The Kennedys came under fire from Kennedy defenders, who launched a public campaign slamming the show and suggesting it was a deliberate attempt to smear the legacy of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Under pressure from the Kennedy boosters, the History Channel, which was supposed to air the miniseries in the U.S., shocked Prupas by telling him in January that the network was dropping the show. It ended up airing on the much smaller Reelzchannel in the U.S. In Canada, it played on History Television Canada in April and then on Global in July.

Those were dark times for Prupas, who, as one of the show's producers, took the accusations personally. That's why he was so excited when The Kennedys nabbed a bunch of Emmy nominations in the U.S. and Gemini nods here in Canada. The eight-hour miniseries is up for 10 Emmy Awards - which will be doled out Sept. 18 - and the miniseries was also nominated for 10 Geminis, the Canadian TV awards. Muse nabbed 34 Gemini nominations in total and 17 Emmy nods.

On Wednesday night, at a non-broadcast Gemini Awards Industry Gala in Toronto, The Kennedys won three trophies, including two in key acting categories. Canadian actor Barry Pepper won as best lead actor in a dramatic program or miniseries for his role as Bobby Kennedy and Diana Hardcastle won as best supporting actress in a miniseries for her portrayal of family matriarch Rose Kennedy.

The Muse co-produced Pillars of the Earth, a German-Canadian production, also won the Gemini as best miniseries or TV movie. In all, Muse came home from T.O. Wednesday with seven Gemini statuettes and it also has two nominations going into the final Gemini Awards Gala on Wednesday, with Hugh Dillon from the Muse drama Durham County and Sam Witwer from the Muse-produced sci-fi show Being Human both up for best actor in a drama.

Prupas says the Gemini and Emmy nominations, and the Gemini wins the other night, are mighty sweet for his company after all the attacks.

"I was really blown away, for want of a better term," said Prupas, a former entertainment lawyer who founded Muse 13 years ago.

"Particularly with respect to what happened on The Kennedys, it was a vindication," Prupas said. "With the Gemini Awards, we got them on (several) different pictures and it shows there's a breadth and quality to the production we're doing that's being noticed and respected. I don't know if we'll ever be able to match this number (of nominations). It may end up being our 15 minutes of fame."

That's not likely to be the case. Muse has quietly become one of the country's leading TV producers. Last year, the company - which has its headquarters in St. Henri - produced $86 million worth of shows, making it the second biggest producer in Canada, behind the Toronto-based multinational Entertainment One. Muse shoots a wide variety of fare, from shows like The Kennedys - made first and foremost for the U.S. market - to international co-productions like Pillars of the Earth to more Canadian-targeted fare like Durham County.

The Kennedys became Muse's highest-profile show ever - for all the wrong reasons. There was an online petition to get The History Channel to dump the show, with the show's detractors arguing it was a politically motivated attempt to tarnish the Kennedy name.

Prupas says he has no regrets about making the show.

"It was a tremendous learning experience for us," Prupas said. "I think we got a raw deal in that it was dropped. But I think in some ways they shot themselves in the foot. By dropping us, they enhanced the awareness of the show. We were also subjected to some very harsh critiques from U.S. critics and it made me feel there was a herd mentality that was created by the dropping of our show. A lot of people jumped on the bandwagon. When you're perceived as being a failure, there will be a lot of people out there kicking you in the teeth."

And he continues to stand by The Kennedys.

"We showed the details of what actually happened. Yes it was an eye-opener for some people. It was tough to be criticized in that way and the implications were quite hurtful. The fact that the members of the Academy (of Television Arts and Sciences) voted in favour of giving it these (Emmy) nominations is a clear indication that we were right all along and that the show is not a hatchet job."

The Gemini Awards airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. on CBC. The Emmy Awards airs Sept. 18 on Fox and CTV.

Muse service production, John A: Birth of a Country, will premiere this month on CBC. The riveting political thriller follows John A. Macdonald, a charismatic and brilliant leader whose charm, force of personality and vision almost single-handedly forge the country, from election day in 1854 through the events leading up to Confederation in 1867.

Starring Shawn Doyle (Big Love), Peter Outerbridge (Reviving Ophelia) and David LaHaye (Mirador), the television movie, filmed in Toronto, will air September 19th at 8:00 pm on CBC-TV.

The six-part drama about women at work in a Second World War bomb factory comes from The Kennedys producer Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Films.

Listen for the boom: Oscar-nominated actress Meg Tilly (Agnes of God, The Big Chill) is starring in Bomb Girls, the Canadian drama from Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Films to shoot in Toronto this Fall.

The 6-part drama about women at work in a Second World War bomb factory will see Tilly in the lead role of a supervisor with two sons on the war front.

The mini-series The Kennedys andThe Pillars of the Earth, the series Durham County (season 3) andBeing Human, andthe television movies Reviving Ophelia and Jack of Diamonds, all produced or co-produced by Muse Entertainment, received a total of 34 Gemini Award nominations today. The Gemini Awards honour outstanding achievement in television.

“Muse has been blessed this year to have worked on some remarkable projects with some of the most talented people in Canada and internationally,” says President of Muse Entertainment, Michael Prupas. “We are grateful to see these talented people honoured by their peers through these many Gemini nominations.”

The Kennedys, which also received 10 prestigious Emmy Award nominations in the United States last month, is produced by Muse Entertainment in association with Asylum Entertainment. The 8-episode historical drama is up for 10 Gemini Awards.

The Pillars of the Earth, an epic 8-episode drama adapted from Ken Follett’s bestselling novel, received 7 Emmy Award nominations last month. Produced by Tandem Communications and Muse Entertainment, in association with Scott Free Films, it was also honoured with 10 nominations.

The riveting 6-episode crime series Durham County, produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Films, received 6 nominations. In 2009, the series brought home 5 Gemini Awards and in 2010 it garnered 4 nominations and 2 wins.

Based on the highly popular UK series, the 13-part series Being Human, produced by Muse Entertainment in association with Zodiak Media Group, received 5 nominations. The second season is currently in production in Montreal.

Other Muse Entertainment titles that received nominations are Reviving Ophelia, a television movieabout an abusive teenage relationship, and Jack of Diamonds, about an unlikely team of thieves that join forces to help those cheated by a corrupt insurance company.

See below for a full list of Muse’s 2011 Gemini Nominations:

THE KENNEDYS:Best Dramatic Mini-Series or TV Movie(Muse Entertainment in association with Asylum Entertainment)Best Achievement in Make-UpJordan Samuel, Jenny Arbour, Linda Dowd, Colin PenmanBest Costume DesignChristopher HargadonBest Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesJon CassarBest Original Music Score for a Dramatic Program, Mini-Series or TV MovieSean CalleryBest Photography in a Dramatic Program or SeriesDavid MoxnessBest Production Design in a Fiction Program or SeriesRocco MatteoBest Sound in a Dramatic ProgramFrank Morrone, Henry Embry, Mark Gingras, Katie Halliday, John Laing, Jill Purdy, Stephen Traub, Marilee YorstonBest Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesBarry PepperBest Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesDiana HardcastleTHE PILLARS OF THE EARTH:Best Dramatic Mini-Series or TV Movie(Tandem Communications and Muse Entertainment, in association with Scott Free Films)Best Achievement in Make-UpColleen QuintonBest Costume DesignMario DavignonBest Original Music Score for a Dramatic Program, Mini-Series or TV MovieTrevor MorrisBest Sound in a Dramatic ProgramMarcel Pothier, Jo Caron, Gavin Fernandes, Guy Francoeur, Louis Gignac, Antoine Morin, Guy Pelletier, Christian RivestBest Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesJohn PielmeierBest Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesRufus SewellBest Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesIan McShaneBest Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesAlison PillBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesHayley AtwellDURHAM COUNTY:Best Direction in a Dramatic SeriesCharles Binamé (The World Ends)Best Sound in a Dramatic SeriesSteve Moore, Alex Bullick, Yann Cleary, Christian Cooke, Andrea Higgins, Jill Purdy, Marilee YorstonBest Achievement in CastingMarissa Richmond, Libby Goldstein, Andrea Kenyon, Suzanne Smith, Randi WellsBest Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic RoleHugh DillonBest Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role, Dramatic SeriesMichael NardoneBest Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic SeriesBénédicte DecaryBEING HUMAN:Best Achievement in Make-UpEmilie Gauthier, Erik GosselinBest Direction in a Dramatic SeriesPaolo Barzman (Dog Eats Dog)Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or SeriesSimon WebbBest Visual EffectsMario Rachiele, Marie-Ève Bédard-Tremblay, Benoît Brière, Carl Gagnon, Catherine Hébert, Raphaël Hubert, Jonathan Laborde, Jean-Francois Lafleur, Pierre-Simon Lebrun-Chaput, Philippe SylvainBest Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic RoleSam WitwerJACK OF DIAMONDS:Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesPeter HumeREVIVING OPHELIA:Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesTeena BoothBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesRebecca Williams

The original Being Human already has a solid fanbase and when the North American version debuted earlier this year, it was clear the franchise was securing its hold.

Season 2 of Syfy's Being Human, which launches next January,sees Aidan, Sally and Josh all going through significant characer changes, so what should viewers be expecting? "Werewolf babies!," joked Sam Huntington, who plays werewolf Josh. "We had this seven-month break and the whole time I was looking forward to picking up where we left off."

Josh is "stronger and he's more in tune with who he is. His relationship with Norah has developed in very interesting ways," Huntington continued.

Sally, played by Meaghan Rath, said her character (a ghost) has learned "more about who she is in her death than she's ever had in her life. We leave off three weeks after we stopped."

Sam Witwer's Aidan, whose "father figure" Bishop is no longer around, "has been strugglign with going clean," Witwer said. "He had this father figure [for 200-plus years and] at the end of the season, Aidan frees himself from that. If youre trying to get off what is essentially a drug habit," which means staying away from the vampires, it proves to be difficult.

When asked if Witwer took from other vampire shows or movies to ready himself for Aidan, the actor revealed that he hadn't "seen True Blood or Vampire Diaries or Twilight."

"I actually don't know if it's actually original or done what a lot of other people have done," Witwer added of his portrayal of Aidan.

In the upcoming Season 2 premiere, however, the cast revealed some minor spoilers. "I snuck a Star Wars reference in the first episode," Witwer revealed, citing his work on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game as Galen Marek/Starkiller.

Executive producer Jeremy Carver, who along with wife and fellow EP Anna Fricke, developed Being Human for North America, discussed how they went about adapting the hugely popular BBC version to theirs. "It's always challenging ... the way we sort of blended the BBC version and ours," Carver said. "This year, we'll see that we're striking on a way farly different path. We're laying down our own framework here."

Carver teased that there will be "new types of werewolves, vampires and ghosts" in the upcoming season, which just began shooting two weeks ago.

But it was clear throughout the panel the great rapport Rath, Witwer and Huntington have with each other. At several points, Witwer impersonated Arnold Schwarzenegger and poked fun of his own dimple chin. During one of the highlights, Rath and Witwer went on a two-minute run pretending to have high-pitched voices and funny accents, a gag that Huntington shared could go on forever.

As always, things aren't fine and dandy in the Being Human household. With Aidan in particular, Witwer said, "He always tried to play it like he was on his game [even though he's not]. He's completely off the rails this season because Bishop is not around. .. It's a huge deal for Bishop to be gone."

Witwer continued: "First episode, he kills a girl, oops. This is a guy who isn't ready to be on his own yet. He's trying to be more open with his roommates but we see that that's not [what he's used to doing]."

Huntington told the crowd to rewatch Season 1 because his "voice gets a little more husky" as the season progresses.

Last night, ABC Family debuted its original movie Cyberbully and if you didn't see it, you probably should. And if you have kids, ya definitely should. Because it turns out that those Kardashian sex tapes and sad Live Journal fanfic forums aren't the Internet's biggest problems. Online bullying is.

Charting one teen's nightmarish run-in with cyber taunts from bitchy classmates and strangers alike (including a fake suitor created by a jealous pal), this unsettling, at times heartbreaking, flick was like the anti-Social Network. Instead of showing how fun sites like Facebook or Twitter can be, we got to see how ferocious the web can get when left in the hands of haters who hide behind the perceived anonymity of their abusive online activity. From lie-filled wall posts and cruel picture comments to homemade viral videos and nasty tweets, it's brutal out there. And based on the rise of bully-related teen suicides in the last few years, it can also be fatal.

Thankfully, amid all the drama — wonderfully handled by Emily Osment as the cyberpariah and Kelly Rowan as her powerless mother — there was also a major download of info for kids (and under-grown adults) dealing with these keyboard terrorists. Apparently, bullies keep going because they don't think their victims will do anything about it, so if you've ever encountered an online assault, here's a few tips for beating the bullies at their own game.

—Tell your parents and teachers.—Print out all abusive posts for proof.—Use that "block" button with abandon, people!—Contact the bully's Internet provider and let them know what's up. You can shut it down by having their service shut down!

Did you watch last night? If so, what did you learn from Cyberbully? Other than the fact that Emily Osment needs her own show, pronto?

The Pillars of the Earth, co-produced with Germany’s Tandem Communications brought in 7 Emmy nominations (four of which were for Canadians in different craft categories) including Outstanding Cinematography and Outstanding Miniseries.

The Kennedys premiered on ReelzChannel in the U.S. this past April, and brought in more than 2 million viewers per episode. The Kennedys was also the highest rated dramatic program ever for History Television in Canada for its opening episode with over 1 million viewers. The miniseries also broke audience records on History UK (425,000 viewers), on SVT in Sweden (766,000 viewers), on RTBF in French language Belgium and on RTE in Ireland. Most recently, The Kennedys brought in over 2.6 million viewers for the series premiere episode on BBC Two in the UK on June 17, outperforming BBC Two’s year-to-date slot average of 1.6m

"We are overwhelmingly proud to be honoured with multiple nominations for the The Kennedys which we produced, and for The Pillars of the Earth, which we co-produced, in the past year. These nominations establish that our peers look at these productions as among the best in the world,” says Executive Producer & Muse Entertainment President Michael Prupas.

Canada is well-represented at this year’s Emmy Awards, with nominations for homegrown actors Christopher Plummer, Michael J. Fox, Will Arnett and Barry Pepper, and nods for prominent Canadian TV productions.

In one of the bigger surprises of yesterday’s Emmy announcements, the miniseries The Kennedys drew 10 nominations overall, including a nod for Pepper, who hails from Campbell River, B.C., for his portrayal of the late Bobby Kennedy.

The Kennedys was also nominated for best miniseries, up against the HBO heavyweights Mildred Pierce, Cinema Verite and Too Big to Fail, and ITV’s Downton Abbey.

Filmed in Toronto, The Kennedys was originally set to broadcast on the U.S. History Channel but was dropped following complaints of historical inaccuracy and eventually sold to the lower-tier cable outlet ReelzChannel.

“There's been a lot of very, very negative comment about the show that has come from people who had an axe to grind, as far as I'm concerned,” Michael Prupas, the show's Montreal-based producer, said of the behind-the-scenes saga.

“Getting these nominations is a tremendous vindication.”

In Canada, the miniseries has aired on History Television and Global.

The 63rd Prime-Time Emmy Awards will take place in Los Angeles on September 18th.

Muse Entertainment has begun production in Montreal of the second season of the hit sci-fi series Being Human. The 13-episode series is about three paranormal roommates and stars Sam Witwer (Smallville, CSI), Meaghan Rath (Prom Wars, 18 to Life) and Sam Huntington (Fanboys, Superman Returns). Dichen Lachman (Dollhouse, Torchwood) joins the cast this season playing a reclusive, centuries-old, vampire royal.

Being Human became an instant hit for US network Syfy when it premiered in January 2011, averaging 1.8 million viewers, and making it Syfy’s most successful, winter-season, scripted series launch in 6 years. In Canada, the debut was the most successful new series launch in winter/spring for SPACE since 2005.

Being Human explores what it means to be human through the eyes of its supernatural outsiders: Aidan (Witwer), a vampire, Sally (Rath), a ghost and Josh (Huntington), a werewolf. By turns frightening, witty, and romantic, the characters struggle on with their double lives, while trying to appear normal.

Based on the highly popular UK series created by Touchpaper TV, Being Human is produced by Muse Entertainment in association with Zodiak Media Group, for Syfy and for SPACE in Canada and is distributed worldwide by Zodiak Rights. Being Human Series 1 has already sold in over 30 territories globally.

Executive Producers of the series are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Jeremy Carver (Supernatural) and Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood) who are both writers/showrunners, Adam Kane (Heroes, Pushing Daisies), Rob Pursey and Toby Whithouse. Irene Litinsky is series Producer. Pierre Jodoin is Director of Photography and Zoe Sakellaropoulo is Production Designer. Adam Kane and Paolo Barzman (The Last Templar, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde) are directing the first three episodes. Directors for the other episodes will be announced later.

Dichen Lachman is joining the cast of the hit original drama series Being Human, produced by Muse Entertainment. Lachman will portray a reclusive, centuries-old vampire royal whose unexpected return to Boston’s vampire society throws main character Aidan (Sam Witwer) and the city into disarray. Being Human begins production on its second season this month in Montreal and will air in 2012.

Dichen Lachman previously co-starred as Sierra on Joss Whedon’s FOX series Dollhouse and has guest starred on Hawaii Five-0, NCIS LA and the upcoming season of Torchwood. She is represented by Jennifer Craig of The Gersh Agency and Mel McKeon and Laura Myones of McKeon-Myones Management.

Being Human became an instant hit for Syfy when it premiered in January 2011 averaging 1.8 million viewers making it the channel’s most successful winter season scripted series launch in 6 years.

In the series, leading everyday lives is a lot harder than it looks for three supernatural roommates – vampire Aidan (Sam Witwer), ghost Sally (Meaghan Rath) and werewolf Josh (Sam Huntington) – who share their secrets and a Boston brownstone. Together they learn that there are fates worse than death and more to life – and the afterlife – than most "normal" humans could ever imagine.

Executive Producers are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Jeremy Carver (Supernatural) and Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood) who are both writers/showrunners, Adam Kane (The Mentalist, Heroes) and Rob Pursey and Toby Whithouse. Irene Litinsky is series Producer.

Being Human is a Muse Entertainment production in association with Zodiak USA. It is based on the acclaimed series, Being Human, created by Toby Whithouse and produced by Touchpaper Television, part of Zodiak Media Group.

The Kennedys continues its winning streak across the globe with over 2.6 million viewers tuning in for the series premiere episode on BBC Two in the UK on June 17. Audience numbers remained steady for the follow-up episode the same night with over 2.3 million viewers, outperforming BBC2’s year-to-date slot average of 1.6m and 1.57m respectively.

Since its world premiere on ReelzChannel in the U.S. this past April, which brought in a record breaking 2 million plus viewers per episode, The Kennedys was the highest rated dramatic program ever for History Television in Canada for its opening episode with over 1,000,000 viewers. The mini-series also pulled in 425,000 viewers for the opening four episodes on History UK, making it History’s top performing series ever; 766,000 viewers in Sweden for the premiere of the series as well as an 18.5% share for the first two episodes on RTBF in French language Belgium and a 24.77% share for episode one in Ireland on RTE.

"The Kennedys continues to perform beyond expectations in the markets where it is broadcast" says Michael Prupas, an executive producer of the miniseries and President of its distributor, Muse Distribution International. “The reason why the BBC Two executives were so delighted about the size of its audience is because it came after the show had already been shown on History Channel UK”, he continued.

The Kennedys has been licensed by more than 50 territories around the world for broadcast in 2011 including Quebec’s Super Ecran, France Television 3, Japan’s NHK, Switzerland’s TSR, Italy’s La Sette, Spain’s Telecinco, Norway’s NRK, New Zealand’s Sky TV, Israel’s IBA, Finland’s YLE and Australia’s ABC.

Muse Entertainment's latest production Cyberbully, starring Emily Osment (Hannah Montana), Kelly Rowan (The OC) and Kay Panabaker (No Ordinary Family), will premiere July 17th at 8 pm on ABC Family. The television movie follows a teenage girl who is pushed to the brink of suicide by the online bullying she gets from kids at school.

KENNEDYS SETS RATING RECORD FOR REELZCHANNEL‘Kennedys’ Sets Rating Record for ReelzChannel

A record 1.9 million total viewers watched the opening night of the controversial The Kennedys on the ReelzChannel Sunday. The mini-series received a 2.5 gross household coverage area rating.

The two-episode beginning airs again tonight at 8pm ET and at 8pm PT. A third episode, titled “Bay of Pigs,” airs Tuesday, and a new episode will air every weeknight at 8pm ET and at 8pm PT through Apr. 8. ReelzChannel also has announced that episodes 1-6 will air back-to-back Sat., Apr. 9 starting at 2pm ET/ 11am PT and again on Sun., Apr. 10 starting at 1pm ET/ 10am PT.

The conclusion airs on Sun., Apr. 10, with the final two episodes airing back to back starting at 8pm ET and at 8pm PT.

MUSE DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCES MULTIPLE INTERNATIONAL SALES FOR THE KENNEDYS

The Kennedys, an 8-hour historical drama about America’s most legendary political family, is being licensed by more than 50 territories around the world for broadcast this year, making The Kennedys one of the most highly anticipated television events of 2011.

“World-wide reaction to The Kennedys has been phenomenal," says Michael Prupas, president of Muse Distribution International, the miniseries’ distributor. “It’s striking an immediate emotional chord with programmers. We’re being told to ship as fast as we can. And the last episode just finished postproduction. We have discussions scheduled with more territories at MIPTV next month.”

“We tell the story of the Kennedys in a way that has never been done,” says Joel Surnow, an executive producer of The Kennedys. “We show who they were as people and why this family is America’s most famous and enduring. When you look at the checklist of all the themes you look for when you start a drama, this one has a 10/10 checklist: ambition, jealousy, betrayal, tragedy… the list goes on and you’ll find it in the Kennedy family. It’s Shakespearean, it’s a Greek tragedy.”

The Kennedys has an all-star lineup: Greg Kinnear plays John F Kennedy, Barry Pepper is Robert F. Kennedy, Katie Holmes is Jackie, and Tom Wilkinson is the dynasty’s patriarch, Joseph Kennedy Sr.

Reelz Network in the US will begin broadcast on April 3; Canada’s History Television on April 10; Quebec’s Super Ecran on April 3; UK’s History™ channel on April 7 and Sweden’s SVT on April 9. BBC 2, France Television 3, Switzerland’s TSR and Belgium’s RTBF are planning a spring or summer broadcast. Italy’s La Sette, Spain’s Telecinco, Norway’s NRK, New Zealand’s Sky TV, Belgium’s VRT, Israel’s IBA, Finland’s YLE and Australia’s ABC also acquired The Kennedys. The miniserieswill also be broadcast throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on AETN History™ networks. Several other European, Asian and Middle Eastern nations will also air The Kennedys.

In the series, the intimate story of the Kennedy family plays out against the backdrop of the great political events of the era; the Berlin Wall, the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, which nearly triggered World War III. Through flashbacks to the 1930's, 1940's and 1950’s, the seriesexplores the epic achievements, regrets, loyalties, loves, betrayals, triumphs and tragedies surrounding John, Robert and Joe Sr., and the women who unconditionally support them. The series delves into the events that shaped the family, including the tragic death of Joe Jr., John’s first run for Congress, Robert’s loyalty to John’s political career and John’s marriage to Jacqueline Bouvier, ending with John’s and Robert’s tragic assassinations.

The Kennedys is a production of Muse Entertainmentin association with Asylum Entertainment.

Nominated for 18 Gemini awards, winner of 7, and praised by the New York Times as “entirely addictive,” Durham County is developed and produced by Muse Entertainment Enterprises Inc. and Back Alley Film Productions Ltd. with Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central and Astral Media’s The Movie Network.The series is produced with participation from the Canadian Media Fund.It is being distributed internationally by ITV Global Entertainment Media.

The series airs on HBO Canada (Eastern Canada) and Movie Central (Western Canada), as well as over 100 territories worldwide.

Being Human, the U.S. version of the British series, produced by Muse Entertainment in association with ZODIAK USA, has averaged 1.8 million viewers so far in its first season, making it the cable network’s most successful winter scripted series launch in six years.

Syfy is also touting Being Human as its most female-skewing series to date, with women making up 53 percent of its viewers.

History Television in Canada will premiere the much talked-about The Kennedys as a four-part television event beginning April 10 at 9 p.m. Barbara Williams, Shaw Media's senior VP of content, called the series "outstanding historical drama."

History UK will air it on a yet to be decided date in April. Please stand by for the date announcement. AETN UK MD Tom Davidson called The Kennedys a "bold and epic account of the Kennedy dynasty."

Super Ecran, a pay network in Quebec, will air the French version of the series starting April 3 at 9 pm Zoe Crabtree, director of programming at Super Ecran said, "The story of the Kennedy family continues to fascinate people and will certainly please our subscribers."

The Kennedys, starring Greg Kinnear, Barry Pepper, Katie Holmes and Tom Wilkinson, has also been licensed to over 30 territories around the world. Please stand by for announcements from the various international broadcasters of The Kennedys.

We are tremendously proud of the work that our talented cast and crew put into the making of The Kennedys and the painstaking efforts that went into creating a compelling drama that is rich in historic detail.

All who worked on the production made every effort to faithfully and honestly tell the Kennedy family story. We meticulously researched all story points and made sure they were supported by multiple respected and objective sources. We are confident that we accurately and authentically recreated each of the events that occurred.

The decision of the History Channel not to broadcast the show was made long after the executives of the Channel as well as the Channel's resident historian (who is a Kennedy expert) had read and approved all of the scripts and viewed and approved all of the final cuts of all of the episodes. Furthermore, our Errors and Omissions Insurer's attorneys reviewed all the scripts and edited episodes - and they have cleared all of the episodes for broadcast.

While we regret that the History Channel has decided that The Kennedys miniseries does not fit their brand, we are confident that television viewers in Canada and around the world - including in the United States - will have the opportunity to watch this exceptional miniseries in the near future.

Muse Entertainment's period mini-series The Pillars of the Earth has snagged a Producers Guild of America award nomination for best TV movie/mini-series.

The international co-production earlier grabbed a Golden Globe nomination.

The PGA competition will see Pillars up against three other mini-series that also grabbed Golden Globe nominations - The Pacific, Temple Grandin and You Don't Know Jack as well as Murder on the Orient Express.

The $40 million, eight-part Pillars miniseries, funded by Canadian, German and British financiers, has an ensemble cast that includes Canadian actors Donald Sutherland, Alison Pill and Gordon Pinsent.

The epic drama has just started airing on the CBC after a debut run on Movie Central and The Movie Network.

The U.S. cable channel Starz aired the epic mini-series stateside.

Pillars is based on the Ken Follett novel about construction on an English cathedral in the 12th century, and was co-produced by Muse, Tandem Communications and Scott Free Films.

The PGA Awards will be handed out January 22 in Los Angeles, after the Golden Globes on January 16.

The 8-hour Event Series The Pillars of the Earth, produced by Tandem Communications and Muse Entertainment in association with Scott Free Films, received three Golden Globe nominations last week including: Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television, Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Hayley Atwell who plays Aliena and Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Ian McShane who plays Waleran.

The Golden Globe Awards, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, recognize excellence in film and television. The annual ceremony will be broadcast nationwide live on NBC on Sunday, January 16, 2011 from 5:00-8:00 (PST)/8:00-11:00 (EST) from the Beverly Hilton Hotel

The Pillars of the Earth, which premiered in Canada and the U.S. this past July, will air on CBC-TV across Canada on January 4th, 2011.

The second season of the riveting 6 hr. crime series Durham County received 7 Gemini nominations today. The Gemini Awards are Canada's "Emmy Awards" and honour outstanding achievement in television.

Durham County - Season 2 received nominations for Best Dramatic Series (Michael Prupas, Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell and Laurie Finstad Knizhnik); Best Direction (Adrienne Mitchell); Best Actress (Hélène Joy) as well as Best Casting, Best Make-up, Best Sound and Best Main Title Design. In 2009, the series brought home 5 Gemini Awards.

Praised by the New York Times as "entirely addictive", Durham County is developed and produced by Muse Entertainment Enterprises Inc. and Back Alley Film Productions Ltd. with Corus Entertainment's Movie Central and Astral Media's The Movie Network. The series is produced with participation from the Canadian Media Fund and is being distributed internationally by ITV Global Entertainment Media.

Durham County season 3 will air October 25, 2010 on The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Movie Central (Western Canada).

Being Human, an edgy, multi-genre television series based on the UK series of the same name, is now in production in Montreal, starring Sam Witwer (Smallville, CSI), Meaghan Rath (Prom Wars, 18 to Life) Sam Huntington (Fanboys, Superman Returns), and Mark Pellegrino (Supernatural, Lost).

The series, produced by Muse Entertainment, follows the lives of three, otherworldly roommates: a vampire (Witwer), a ghost (Rath) and a werewolf (Huntington), all desperately trying to live as human beings. They help each other navigate through complex double lives while struggling to hide their dark secrets from the world.

The 13 x 1 hour episodes, based on the highly popular UK series produced by Touchpaper Television and executive produced by Rob Pursey, is being produced for SyFy in the US and SPACE in Canada. RDF Rights currently distributes the UK series and the format for Being Human and will distribute the new version of the series internationally.

"Being Human is truly innovative in that it ingeniously interweaves supernatural, drama, comedy and horror," says Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Executive Producer and President of Muse Entertainment. "Audiences will be hooked from the first scenes and thoroughly captivated."

"The BBC's Being Human captured my imagination completely, so when I had the opportunity to be involved with the reinvention of the series, I jumped at the chance," says Director and co-Executive Producer Adam Kane (The Mentalist, Heroes). "We've brought a fresh take to the visual language and storylines, introducing a distinctive flavor to the heart and soul of what makes the series identifiable, human, and entertaining."

The dark and witty drama is written and executive produced by husband-and-wife duo Jeremy Carver (Waterfront, Supernatural) and Anna Fricke (Dawson's Creek, Everwood).

The Producer is Irene Litinsky (Human Trafficking, The Phantom) of Muse Entertainment, the Director of Photography is Pierre Jodoin (The Phantom, Secrets of the Mountain) and the Production Designer is Zoë Sakellaropoulo (The Last Templar, The Phantom).

Muse would like to congratulate the following nominees on their Directors Guild of Canada award nominations!

BEST DIRECTION - TV MOVIE/MINI-SERIES

Paolo Barzman for The Phantom

BEST DIRECTION - TV SERIES

Adrienne Mitchell for Durham County - "Little Lost Children"

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN - TV MOVIE/MINI-SERIES

Zoe Sakellaropoulo for The Phantom

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN - TV SERIES

Donna Noonan for Durham County - "Little Lost Children"

BEST PICTURE EDITING - TV SERIES

Teresa De Luca for Durham County - "Little Lost Children"

Entering its 9th year, the DGC Awards has grown to be one of the most-anticipated events of the fall. Over 450 film and television industry professionals attend the Awards - major directors, producers and some of Canada's best-known actors.

Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Film Productions are thrilled to congratulate Michelle Forbes (True Blood, In Treatment) on winning Monte Carlo's Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actress - Drama TV Series, for her performance in Durham County season two.

Michelle Forbes was recognized for her chilling portrayal of troubled forensic psychiatrist Pen Verrity, who develops a strong bond with detective Mike Sweeney played by Hugh Dillon.

Nominated for 13 Gemini awards, winner of 5, and praised by the New York Times as "entirely addictive," Durham County is developed and produced by Muse Entertainment Enterprises Inc. and Back Alley Film Productions Ltd. with Corus Entertainment's Movie Central and Astral Media's The Movie Network. The series is produced with participation from the Canadian Television Fund. It is being distributed internationally by ITV Global Entertainment Media.

The series airs on The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Movie Central (Western Canada), on ION Television in the US, as well as over 100 territories worldwide.

Season three of Durham County has recently finished postproduction and will air in the fall on The Movie Network and Movie Central.

History Television joins forces with U.S. AETN channel, History, to produce the Canadian Specialty channel's first-ever scripted limited series, The Kennedys. Featuring a stellar cast, this revealing one-hour, eight-part drama spotlights one of America's most legendary families as they have never been seen before. The series is set to premiere in 2011.

Heavy on star-power, the ambitious series features Oscar®-nominated and Emmy® Award-winning actor Greg Kinnear (As Good As it Gets, Little Miss Sunshine) as President John F. Kennedy, Katie Holmes (Batman Begins, The Ice Storm) as First Lady, Emmy® Award-winning actor Tom Wilkinson (In The Bedroom, John Adams) as Ambassador Joe Kennedy Sr. and Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan, Enemy of the State) will star as Attorney General, Robert Kennedy.

"There's an endless fascination with the Kennedy story, and it's one that continues to resonate with people around the world," said Christine Shipton, SVP, Drama and Factual Content, Canwest Broadcasting. "As the network's very first scripted drama series, we're excited to bring this prolific piece of American history to life with our partners at AETN."

Produced by Muse Entertainment for AETN and History Television, The Kennedys come from the Emmy® Award-winning team behind the groundbreaking series 24, creators Stephen Kronish and Joel Surnow. The series will be directed by Jon Cassar (24, Criminal Minds) and produced by Muse Entertainment in association with Asylum Entertainment. Joel Surnow, Jonathan Koch, Steve Michaels, Michael Prupas, Jon Cassar and Jamie Paul Rock serve as the executive producers.

Shooting is set to begin in June in and around the Greater Toronto area and will continue through until September, 2010.

Muse congratulates DURHAM COUNTY for its honorable mention on the NY Times list of TOP TEN TELEVISION SHOWS OF 2009.

Principal photography on the third season of the award-winning series Durham County has just wrapped in Montreal. Nominated for 13 Gemini awards, winner of 5, and praised by the New York Times as "entirely addictive," the third season of the six-part, one-hour drama series features returning stars Hugh Dillon (Flashpoint), Hélène Joy (Murdoch Mysteries), Laurence Leboeuf (Human Trafficking) and Greyston Holt (Smallville) and new cast member Michael Nardone (Rome) as Detective Ivan Sujic.

Durham County is developed and produced by Muse Entertainment Enterprises Inc. and Back Alley Film Productions Ltd. with Corus Entertainment's Movie Central and Astral Media's The Movie Network. The series is produced with participation from the Canadian Television Fund. It is being distributed internationally by ITV Global Entertainment Media.

The third season is directed by Adrienne Mitchell and Charles Binamé (Flashpoint). Joining the production team are Line Producer Claude Paiement (Durham County), D.O.P. Éric Cayla (The Dead Zone), Production Designer Donna Noonan (Bliss) and Costume Designer Janet Campbell (Swamp Devil). The series airs on The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Movie Central (Western Canada), on ION Television in the US, as well as over 100 territories worldwide.

Muse Entertainment's critically acclaimed documentary feature Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae has been selected to compete for the Best Documentary Feature Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival, which runs January 21-28, 2010 in Park City, Utah.

The music documentary, which premiered this summer to rave reviews in Canada, takes a close look at Rocksteady, a musical era in the 1960s that developed the buoyant rhythms, prominent bass line, beautiful vocals and socially conscious lyrics that became Reggae. Forty years after this Golden Age of Jamaican music, the remaining great singers and musicians of Rocksteady come together once more to record an album of their greatest hits, to perform at a reunion concert and to tell their story - all of it captured in this stunning film.

Since its Canadian theatrical premiere, the film has played in film festivals in Germany, Sweden and Thailand. At Slamdance, it will compete against seven other documentaries for the coveted prize. A total of ten narrative films and eight documentaries were selected from 5,000 submissions.

On July 4, 2009, the legendary singers featured in the film performed outdoors live at the prestigious Festival International de Jazz de Montreal for an audience of 100,000.

The film, record and concert are a co-production of HesseGreutert Film of Switzerland (www.hessegreutert.ch) and Muse Entertainment Enterprises of Canada (www.muse.ca).

Muse Entertainment is thrilled to announce that actress Chandra Wilson (Grey's Anatomy) has been nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie for her unforgettable performance in the Muse Entertainment / Automatic Pictures production Accidental Friendship.

The television movie about the unlikely friendship between a homeless woman (Chandra Wilson) and a beautiful but tough veteran cop (Kathleen Munroe) has already been nominated for 3 Image Awards and 1 Prism Award.

We congratulate Chandra Wilson for her nomination and wish her the best of luck on Emmy night!

Muse Entertainment is thrilled to present the world premiere of the documentary Rocksteady: The Roots Of Reggae at the Musée d'art contemporain from July 4 to 12 with four screenings every day. The film takes a close look at Rocksteady, a musical era in the 1960s that developed the buoyant rhythms, prominent bass line, beautiful vocals and socially conscious lyrics that became Reggae. Forty years after this Golden Age of Jamaican music, the remaining great singers and musicians of Rocksteady come together once more to record an album of their greatest hits, to perform at a reunion concert and to tell their story - all of it captured in this stunning film.

The singers featured are Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths and Dawn Penn; Hopeton Lewis, Stranger Cole, Derrick Morgan, Ken Boothe, Leroy Sibbles and U-Roy. Among the musicians are Earnest Ranglin, Sly Dunbar, Jackie Jackson, Gladstone Anderson, Hux Brown and Scully Simms. A special guest star in the film is Rita Marley, who along with, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths made up the I-Threes, Bob Marley's backup singers during his rapid rise to stardom. These artists reunite to take us on a trip through time with such legendary hits as Rivers of Babylon, The Tide Is High and Stop That Train.

What is Rocksteady? A blend of ska, North American soul and R&B, this Jamaican sound was all the rage just before the advent of reggae. The documentary Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae traces its history and reunites the last great singers and musicians of the golden age of this soulful, rhythmic music. Four decades after its peak, the voices and instruments of the veterans of Rocksteady were reassembled a final time to record a greatest hits album, perform live, and tell their stories in Stascha Bader's documentary.

And in what's certain to be the greatest Rocksteady event ever seen, the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal had the bright idea to reunite these originators of reggae... for real, live onstage! Welcome the spectacular return of the original spearheads of pure Rocksteady, in the all-new Place des Festivals. The Festival invites fans to the Grande soirée XM Radio Satellite, a free outdoor Rocksteady megaconcert live from the General Motors stage on Tuesday, July 7, 9:00 p.m.

The film will screen four times daily at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., except for July 4 (only at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.) and July 6 (only at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.). The 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. screenings will have French subtitles and the 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. screenings will be the original English version.

The legendary story of Ben Hur began principal photography May 4, 2009 and is being produced for the first time for television. Based on the original 1880's novel by Lew Wallace, the 4-hour miniseries is directed by Steve Shill (Rome, The Tudors, and the #1 US box office hit Obsessed) from a script by Alan Sharp (Rob Roy).

The project is financed and distributed worldwide by London and LA based Alchemy Television Group and co-produced by Drimtim Entertainment of Spain, Muse Entertainment of Canada and Zak Productions of Morocco in association with Alchemy and Akkord Films of Germany. The miniseries is being produced with the participation of Antena 3 in Spain, ProSieben in Germany, ABC Network in USA and CBC in Canada. Ben Hur is shooting in Ouarzazate, Morocco until the end of June.

It is 50 years since William Wyler's panoramic and hugely successful feature film Ben Hur won 11 Academy Awards.

Executive producers on the project are Manuel Corbi (Art Heist), Michael Prupas (Human Trafficking, The Last Templar), Frank Konigsberg (Guyana Tragedy, Ellis Island, Last Don), Dirk Beinhold (Afterwards) and David Wyler, William Wyler's son. "We are re-inventing the underlying material for a new generation, but the themes of friendship and forgiveness are timeless," says Wyler.

Director Steve Shill is using the majestic backdrop of the natural world for the setting of the story. He is filming the famous chariot race, for example, in an oasis in the Moroccan desert where thousands of people will crowd the hillside, watching the horses and chariots compete in a frenzied and dangerous battle. "We are making a very realistic Ben Hur and it will be gritty, truthful, striking and surprising," Shill says.

Shill's production team includes Jonathan Stamp, the historical consultant who worked with Shill on Rome, Production Designer Benjamin Fernandez (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Gladiator), Director of Photography Ousama Rawi (The Tudors) and Costume Designer Simonetta Mariano (Tales from the Neverending Story).

Producers Simon Vaughan (Coco Chanel, Diamonds) and Roger Corbi (The Lost, Reflections) concur: "This is a huge production with a budget of over $22 million US. We have an outstanding cast and crew and expect to raise the bar of what it means to produce event drama."

Together with Executive Producers Manuel Corbi of Drimtim and Michael Prupas of Muse Entertainment, they have managed to harness the best creative and financial resources from the world-market to deliver a global network event. Corbi says, "Every century needs its Ben Hur and we are proud to be involved in the Ben Hur of the 21st Century. We want to give a contemporary dimension to the story." Prupas adds: "We are thrilled to be making Ben Hur for the world market, especially in the current financial climate when broadcasters are spending their budgets very carefully."

Alchemy CEO, Carrie Stein says, "Ben Hur is a must have for broadcasters around the world. We are extremely grateful for their efforts creatively and financially in helping us launch this enormous production. Ben Hur is a tent-pole event that comes along so rarely and we are extremely proud to be part of this project."

The mini-series Impact starring David James Elliot (Jag), Natasha Henstridge (Species) and James Cromwell (The Queen) has been nominated for four Leo Awards including: Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, Best Musical Score and Best Visual Effects.

Impact is a four-hour internationally produced disaster epic about three scientists who are sent into space to risk their lives and save the planet when the moon enters into a collision course with planet Earth after being hit by a powerful meteor.

The Leo Awards were established in 1998 to celebrate excellence in British Columbia film and television. The 2009 Celebration and Gala Awards Ceremonies will take place May 8 and 9 at the Westin Bayshore Vancouver.

Although The Phantom is based on the popular adventure comic strip created by Lee Falk (Mandrake the Magician) in 1936 and which is still running in 2009, "We are re-inventing the franchise," says Producer Irene Litinksy (The Last Templar, Human Trafficking). "Our Phantom is slick, cool and urban - a 16th century legend brought into a world of 21st century realities. He will appeal to both a new audience, as well as the international aficionados of the Phantom series. Our goal is to remain faithful to the Phantom of the past decades while setting him against contemporary and global challenges."

Phantom books and comic books are published in the US, India and several European countries. The Phantom is a young, costumed, agile and athletic crime fighter trained in many forms of combat and marksmanship. Unlike comic book superheroes, he has no super powers. He wears a purple costume and mask, carries a dagger and two pearl-handled pistols, and also wears the famous skull ring, passed down to him through generations of Phantoms. He battles the trained assassins of the evil Singh Brotherhood, an international crime syndicate.

"Following the footsteps of a reluctant super hero, The Phantom will take audiences on a spine-tingling ride," says Director Paolo Barzman (The Last Templar, Emotional Arithmetic).

Principal photography is in Montreal but second unit filming will also take place in Costa Rica and New York City.

The Director of Photography of the miniseries is Pierre Jodoin (Flood, Killer Wave); the Production Designer is Zoë Sakellaropoulo (The Last Templar, Carny) and costumes are by Odette Gadoury (Lucky Number Slevin, The Punisher). The Phantom will air on the Sci Fi Channel in the US and will be distributed worldwide by RHI Entertainment. Movie Central has Canadian pay television broadcast rights.

The Canadian feature film Swamp Devil won the Best Feature Film award at Sunday's Burbank International Film Festival in Burbank, California. Filmmaker David Winning (Andromeda, Stargate: Atlantis, Blood Ties) won as well for Best Director and composer James Gelfand was nominated for Best Original Score.

This is Swamp Devil's 8th award. The eerie tale of magic and revenge set in a small town, also brought home the Gold World Medal for Best Direction at the New York Festivals 2009 Television Programming Awards; the Best Foreign Feature film award at last year's Big Island Film Festival in Waikoloa, Hawaii; the Platinum award for Directing in Texas at the Houston International Film Festival; as well as two awards at the 2008 Philadelphia Terror Film Festival including: The Audience Favourite award and Best Supporting Actor award for Bruce Dern (Monster, Big Love).

The Christmas Choir, produced by Muse Entertainment in association with Towers Pictures, won America's prestigious Epiphany Prize for the most inspiring television movie or mini series of 2008.

The TV movie for the Hallmark Channel and Global Television, which tells the uplifting story of one man's struggle to bring together a choir of homeless men during the holidays, was nominated for the Epiphany Prize by the Board of Directors of MOVIEGUIDE®: A Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment. The winners were announced February 11th at the Annual MOVIEGUIDE® Awards Gala in Beverly Hills.

The film was produced in the Fall of 2008 by Michael Prupas, executive produced by Lisa Towers and Joel Rice, directed by Peter Svatek, written by Donald Martin and filmed in Montreal by Éric Cayla.

The Christmas Choir is now Hallmark Channel's 5th highest rated Christmas original movie of all-time.